Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of molybdenum in lubricating oils with use of emulsions

Abstract Samples (0.1 g) containing molybdenum disulphide are digested with aqua regia or with a (1 + 1) hydrofluoric/nitric acid mixture, without complete destruction of the matrix, and the molybdenum is determined in an air/acetylene flame, after emulsification with a non-ionic surfactant (Nemol K-39). The detection limit is ca. 30 μg Mo g−1, and the r.s.d. is 2.9% for 6 analyses of a sample containing 6.5 mg Mo g−1.