Abstract
Adoption of hygienic controls for air-borne beryllium pointed up the need for a rapid analytical method for air samples. Such a method is described which consists of sample collection on Whatman #41 filter paper, ashing of the sample and subsequent conversion to beryllium fluoride. The formation of a lake with p-nitrophenylazoorcinol, and comparison of the Klett reading with a standard curve gives beryllium content. (For optimum results, samples should contain from 5 to 45 micrograms of beryllium.) Interfering heavy metals are chelated with Dow's Versene “T”. Copper and zinc are complexed with cyanide. The method is recommended only for air samples collected on Whatman #41 paper or equivalent.