The analyte additions method was applied for sodium determination in fuel ethanol by atomic emission spectrometry. Graphics involving emission intensity versus analyte concentration in the 0 - 0.300 mg Na L-1 interval concentration range contaning 2.1 g K L-1 as an ionisation buffer. Twenty samples of commercial fuel ethanol were collected in differents gas stations located in Araraquara city, analyzed and results obtained varied from 0.0072 to 1.55 mg Na L-1. The limits of detecction (L.O.D.) varied from 0.0026 to 0.0239 mg Na L-1. Recoveries varied in the 95 - 104 % interval. The relative standard deviations (n=12) for three analyte additions in all samples were <FONT FACE=Symbol>£</FONT> 4,1 %.
Flame atomic emission spectrometry; analyte additions method; fuel ethanol; sodium