Cloud-point preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of molybdenum(VI) in steels and water samples

A simple spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace levels of molybdenum using N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2 diaminopropane

The present work describes a selective, rapid and economical spectrophotometric method for the determination of molybdenum using N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2 diaminopropane. Molybdenum(VI) reacts with N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2 diaminopropane to form a stable 1:1 yellow complex with an absorption maximum at 342 nm. The reaction is completed within 10 min and the absorbance of the molybdenum complex remains stable for at least 1 week at room temperature. The effective molar absorption coefficient at 342 nm was 9.6 × 10(3)L mol(-1)cm(-1). Under optimal conditions, the complex obeys Beer's law from 0 to 9.9 μg mL(-1). The relative standard deviation was 0.08% (for 11 samples, each containing 6 μg mL(-1) molybdenum). Under the optimum conditions, the detection limit (3σ) was 17.7 μg L(-1) for molybdenum without any preconcentration. The precision was determined from 30 results obtained for 4.80 μg mL(-1) Mo(VI); the mean value of a molybdenum(VI) was 4.83 μg ml(-1) with a standard derivation of 0.002 μg ml(-1) molybdenum(VI).

Complex-forming organic ligands in cloud-point extraction of metal ions: a review

Cloud-point extraction (CPE), an easy, safe, environmentally friendly, rapid and inexpensive methodology for preconcentration and separation of trace metals from aqueous solutions has recently become an attractive area of research and an alternative to liquid-liquid extraction. Moreover, it provides results comparable to those obtained with other separation techniques and has a greater potential to be explored in improving detection limits and other analytical characteristics over other methods. A few reviews have been published covering different aspects of the CPE procedure and its relevant applications, such as the phenomenon of clouding, the application in the extraction of trace inorganic and organic materials, as well as pesticides and protein substrates from different sources, or incorporation of CPE into an FIA system. This review focuses on general properties of the most frequently used organic ligands in cloud-point extraction and on literature data (from 2000 to 2012) concerning the use of modern techniques in determination of metal ions' content in various materials. The article is divided according to the class of organic ligands to be used in CPE.

Selective cloud point extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric determination of molybdenum (VI) ion in seawater samples

A cloud point extraction process using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 to extract molybdenum from aqueous solutions was investigated. The method is based on the complexation reaction of Mo(VI) with 1,2,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione (quinalizarine: QA) and micelle-mediated extraction of the complex. The enriched analyte in the surfactant-rich phase was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g. pH, reagent and surfactant concentrations, temperature, incubation and centrifugation times) were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for Mo(VI) was 7.0 ng L(-1) with an preconcentration factor of approximately 25 when 10 mL of sample solution was preconcentrated to 0.4 mL. The proposed method (with extraction) showed linear calibration within the range 0.03-0.6 microg L(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be 3.7% (C(Mo(VI))=0.05 microg L(-1), n=5) for pure standard solutions, whereas RSD for the recoveries from real samples ranged between 2 and 8% (mean RSD=3.9%). The method was applied to the determination of Mo(VI) in seawater and tap water samples with a recovery for the spiked samples in the range of 98-103%. The interference effect of some cations and anions was also studied. In the presence of foreign ions, no significant interference was observed. In order to verify the accuracy of the method, a certified reference water sample was analysed and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values.

A preconcentration system for determination of copper and nickel in water and food samples employing flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A separation/preconcentration procedure using solid phase extraction has been proposed for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper and nickel at trace level in food samples. The solid phase is Dowex Optipore SD-2 resin contained on a minicolumn, where analyte ions are sorbed as 5-methyl-4-(2-thiazolylazo) resorcinol chelates. After elution using 1 mol L(-1) nitric acid solution, the analytes are determinate employing flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimization step was performed using a full two-level factorial design and the variables studied were: pH, reagent concentration (RC) and amount of resin on the column (AR). Under the experimental conditions established in the optimization step, the procedure allows the determination of copper and nickel with limit of detection of 1.03 and 1.90 microg L(-1), respectively and precision of 7 and 8%, for concentrations of copper and nickel of 200 microg L(-1). The effect of matrix ions was also evaluated. The accuracy was confirmed by analyzing of the followings certified reference materials: NIST SRM 1515 Apple leaves and GBW 07603 Aquatic and Terrestrial Biological Products. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of copper and nickel in real samples including human hair, chicken meat, black tea and canned fish.