Is titration the best method to analyse copper content of ore

A. Hi walichupa
I am not an assayer, but both 911Metallurgist (https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/estimation-copper-ores-iodide-method) and Metrohm (https://www.metrohm.com/content/dam/metrohm/shared/documents/application-notes/an-h/AN-H-043.pdf) suggest and offer iodometric titration methods.
Luck & Regards,


Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. If I wanted an accurate answer I would use Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry [on eBay or Amazon] with matrix matched standards to counteract any interference effects that might be encountered.

A. Sophisticated instruments are usually the "better" way to go if you have them, but you don't always have them. In between titration and AA there may be a middle answer like colorimeter testing. The answer may depend on what level of instrumentation is available to you.

A. Dear Patel,

If you want to analyse the copper content of copper ore, I would not recommend AAS. AAS is a very good analytical tool. However, when analyzing higher concentration of metal ions, as in the case of copper ore, one has to be careful in choosing the working range and wavelength. Also dilution of the solution should also be done with caution since too much of dilution may results in positive error in the analysis.

You can adopt titrimetric method, which is also a recommended method in the chemical analysis of ores.

In fact, titrimetric methods are most suited for the determination of higher concentrations of metal ions.