Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

Gold is a highly prized metal whose ore deposits are continually being mined and depleted. With the increasing scarcity of continental gold ores, gold miners and scientist are turning to the sea as one alternate source of this precious metal. But the problem arises in determining which parts of the ocean to mine. Ideally the area with the greatest concentration of gold would be the best place to start but determining an accurate concentration of gold in a sample of seawater is difficult for various reasons. The main reason being gold's extremely low concentration in seawater, averaging at about13 [sic] parts per trillion. This study deals with detecting trace amounts of gold in seawater. The first step in the analysis involves pre-concentrating gold in seawater using an ion exchange resin, Chelexª -100, and optimizing the experimental conditions. Then the chromatographic fractions are analyzed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The results from several trials are presented in this study.

Comments

by Walter Jean-Vertus.

Extent

vi, 20 leaves : ill.

Identifier

314376960

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