Selective extraction, separation and speciation of iron in different samples using 4-acetyl-5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

A method for speciation, preconcentration and separation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in different matrices was developed using solvent extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. 4-Acetyl-5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (AMPC) was used as a new complexing reagent for Fe(III). The Fe(III)-AMPC complex was extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) phase in the pH range 1.0-2.5, and Fe(II) ion remained in aqueous phase at all pH. The chemical composition of the Fe(III)-AMPC complex was determined by the Job's method. The optimum conditions for quantitative recovery of Fe(III) were determined as pH 1.5, shaking time of 2 min, 1.64 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ AMPC reagent and 10 mL of MIBK. Furthermore, the influences of diverse metal ions were investigated. The level of Fe(II) was calculated by difference of total iron and Fe(III) concentrations. The detection limit based on the 3σ criterion was found to be 0.24 μg L⁻¹ for Fe(III). The recoveries were higher than 95% and relative standard deviation was less than 2.1% (N = 8). The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of two certified standard reference materials. The presented method was applied to the determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in tap water, lake water, river water, sea water, fruit juice, cola, and molasses samples with satisfactory results.     

AAS determination of Co, Ni, Mn and Cr in ores, concentrates and dusts from copper metallurgy after matrix elements separation by extraction

Summary A method has been developed for the AAS determination of Co, Ni, Mn and Cr in ores, concentrates and dusts of copper metallurgy at the 10^–3–10^–1% level. The matrix elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe) were separated in a two-stage extraction: with MIBK from 6 M HCl solution and with 0.1 M tetrahexylammonium iodide (THAI) in MIBK from 3 M HCl, in form of ion-pairs, without Co, Ni, Mn and Cr losses. Values of r.s.d. were 2.0–6.0%.

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AAS-Bestimmung von Co, Ni, Mn und Cr in Erzen, Konzentraten und Stäuben aus dem Bereich der Kupfermetallurgie nach Abtrennung der Matrixelemente durch Extraction

Zusammenfassung Das beschriebene Verfahren eignet sich für den Bereich von 10^–3 bis 10^–1%. Die Matrixelemente (Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe) wurden als Ionenpaare ohne Verluste an Co, Ni, Mn und Cr mit Hilfe einer zweistufigen Extraktion abgetrennt: mit MIBK aus 6 M HCl-Lösung und mit 0,1 M Tetrahexylammoniumiodid (THAI) in MIBK aus 3 M HCl-Lösung. Die relativen Stadardabweichungen lagen im Bereich von 2,0 bis 6,0%.

     

Organically modified silica gel and flame atomic absorption spectrometry: employment for separation and preconcentration of nine trace heavy metals for their determination in natural aqueous systems

A 5-formyl-3-(1′-carboxyphenylazo) salicylic acid-bonded silica gel (FCPASASG) chelating adsorbent was synthesized according to a very simple and rapid one step reaction between aminopropyl silica gel (APSG) and 5-formyl-3-(1′-carboxyphenylazo) salicylic acid (FCPASA) and its adsorption characteristics were studied in details. Nine trace metals viz.: Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be quantitatively adsorbed by the adsorbent from natural aqueous systems at pH 7.0–8.0. The adsorbed metal ions can be readily desorbed with 1 M HNO₃ or 0.05 M Na₂EDTA. The distribution coefficient, K_d and the percentage concentration of the investigated metal ions on the adsorbent at equilibrium, C_M,_eqm % (Recovery, R%) were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficient, logK_d, are 3.7–6.4. Some foreign ions caused little interference in the preconcentration and determination of the investigated nine metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).The adsorption capacity of FCPASASG was 0.32–0.43 meq g⁻¹. C and N elemental analyses of the adsorbent (FCPASASG) allowed us to calculate a surface converge of 0.82 mmol g⁻¹. This value compares well with the best values reported for the azo compounds. The adsorbent and its formed metal chelates were characterized by IR (absorbance and/or reflectance) and UV spectrometry, potentiometric titrations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). The mode of chelation between the FCPASASG adsorbent and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be due to reaction of those metal ions with the salicylic and/or the carboxyphenylazo chelation centers of the FCPASASG adsorbent. Nanogram concentrations (0.07–0.14 ng ml⁻¹) of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be determined reliably with a preconcentration factor of 100.     

Photometric determination of iron (III)

A sensitive colored reaction of tiron with iron (III) is described. It is based on a complex formation between tiron and iron (III) in basic medium. The method is suitable to determine 0.4–10 ppm of iron (III) with a relative standard deviation of 0.45–1.4% depending on the concentration level, molar absorptivity of 5.7 × 10³ liter mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, and Sandell sensitivity index of 0.0098 μg/cm².Because of being simple and rapid, this method can certainly be used in routine analysis.     

Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction combined with gas chromatography-electron capture detector for the determination of three pesticide residues in soils

In this study, a new method was developed for analyzing malathion, cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin from soil samples by using homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) and gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC–ECD). Acetone was used as extraction solvent for the extraction of target pesticides from soil samples. When the extraction process was finished, the target analytes in the extraction solvent were rapidly transferred from the acetone extract to carbon tetrachloride, using HLLE. Under the optimum conditions, linearity was obtained in the range of 0.05–40 μg kg⁻¹ for malathion, 0.04–10 μg kg⁻¹ for lambda-cyhalothrin and 0.05–50 μg kg⁻¹ for cypermethrin, respectively. Coefficients of correlation (r²) ranged from 0.9993 to 0.9998. The repeatability was carried out by spiking soil samples at concentration levels of 2.5 μg kg⁻¹ for lambda-cyhalothrin, and 10 μg kg⁻¹ for malathion and cypermethrin, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) varied between 2.3 and 9.6% (n = 3). The limits of detection (LODs), based on signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3, varied between 0.01 and 0.04 μg kg⁻¹. The relative recoveries of three pesticides from soil A1, A2 and A3 at spiking levels of 2.5, 5 and 10 μg kg⁻¹ were in the range of 82.20–91.60%, 88.90–110.5% and 77.10–98.50%, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed method can be successfully applied for the determination of target pesticide residues in real soil samples.     

Screening method for phthalate esters in water using liquid-phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic microdrop combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) technique was developed using directly suspended organic microdrop coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), for the extraction and the determination of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) in water samples. Microextraction efficiency factors, such as nature and volume of the organic solvent, temperature, salt effect, stirring rate and the extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions (extraction solvent: 1-dodecanol; extraction temperature: 60 °C; microdrop volume: 7 μL; stirring rate: 750 rpm, without salt addition and extraction time: 25 min), figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated. The values of the detection limit were in the range of 0.02–0.05 μg L⁻¹, while the R.S.D.% value for the analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ of the analytes was below 7.7% (n = 4). A good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9940) and a broad linear range (0.05–100 μg L⁻¹) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factor values ranging from 307 to 412. Finally, the designed method was successfully applied for the preconcentration and determination of the studied phthalate esters in different real water samples and satisfactory results were attained.     

A new method for the spectrophotometric determination of pertechnetate with tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) ion

A new spectrophotometric determination of technetium has been developed by means of the solvent extraction of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) ([Fe(phen)₃ ²⁺]) with pertechnetate into nitrobenzene. The concentration of technetium can be determined by measuring the characteristic absorbance at 516 nm (=11,700M^–1·cm^–1) in the organic phase. An important feature of the proposed method is that the concentration of pertechnetate can be determined without complicated processes such as the reduction of pertechnetate and the subsequent formation of a colored chelate.     

First Order Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of Vanadium(V) and Iron(III) Individually and Simultaneously

A novel, sensitive and highly selective first derivative spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of vanadium(V) and iron(III) metal ions separately and simultaneously in a mixture. 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde benzoylhydrazone (OHNABH) reacts with vanadium(V) and iron(III) in sodium acetate–acetic acid buffer medium (pH 5.0) forming yellow and yellowish brown colored soluble complexes, respectively. The first derivative curves of these colored solutions show maximum derivative amplitudes at 465 nm (V(V)) and 540 nm (Fe(III)) obeying Beer's law in the range 0.12–2.50 g ml^–1 and 0.14–4.20 g ml^–1, respectively. Large number of foreign ions do not interfere in the present method. A very simple and accurate simultaneous first derivative method is also reported for the determination of V(V) and Fe(III) in mixtures without solving simultaneous equations. The method is applied for the analysis of various natural samples, food and biological materials.     

Simultaneous flow injection speciation of iron(II) and iron(III) cyano complexes utilizing electrochemical and atomic absorption detectors in series

Summary A method is described for the simultaneous speciation of Fe(CN) ₆ ^4– and Fe(CN) ₆ ^3– in a flow injection (FIA) system comprising electrochemical (EC) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) detectors in series. One of these species is detected amperometrically at a Pt-electrode by applying the required potential and measuring the resulting reduction or oxidation current of the appropriate iron cyanide complex. Total iron in both species is determined by an AAS detector. The EC detector is inherently more sensitive, with a detection limit of 0.5 g Fe l^–1 and a relative standard deviation of 1.0% for a 0.040 g Fe ml^–1 sample. The limit of detection for the AAS detector is 0.5 g Fe ml^–1, and the relative standard deviation for a 5.70 g Fe ml^–1 sample is 0.40%. The method enables up to 60 analyses (120 speciations) per hour and obviates the problem of easy oxidation of Fe(CN) ₆ ^4– .

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Simultane Speziation von Eisen(II)- und Eisen(III)-Cyanokomplexen durch Flie\injektionsanalyse mit Hilfe von hintereinander geschalteten elektrochemischen und AAS-Detektoren

     

Spectrophotometric determination of iron after separation of its 9,10-phenanthrenequinone monoximate on microcrystalline naphthalene

A sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of iron as Fe(II) or Fe(III) using 9,10-phenanthrenequinone monoxime (PQM) as the complexing agent. Fe(II) and Fe(III) react with PQM to form coloured water insoluble complexes which can be adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH ranges 3.7–6.2 and 2.0–8.4, respectively. The solid mass consisting of the metal complex and naphthalene is dissolved in DMF and the metal determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbances Fe(II) at 745 nm and Fe(III) at 425 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.5–20.0 g of iron(II) and 20–170.0 g of Fe(III) in 10 ml of DMF solution. The molar absorptivities are 1.333 × 10⁴ 1 · mole^–1 · cm^–1 for Fe(II) and 2.428 × 10³1· mole^–1 · cm^–1 for Fe(III). The precision of determination is better than 1%. The interference of various ions has been studied and the method has been employed for the determination of iron in various standard reference alloys, bears, wines, ferrous gluconate, human hair and environmental samples.     

Determination of Total Iron in Environmental Samples by Solid Phase Extraction with Dimethyl(E)‐2‐(2‐Methoxyphenoxy)‐2‐Butenedioate

A novel solid phase extraction technique for determination of total iron in environmental water samples was developed. The method is based on sorption of Fe(III) ions on octadecyl silica membrane disk modified with a new synthetic ligand dimethyl(E)‐2‐(2‐methoxyphenoxy)‐2‐butenedioate (I). Iron(III) is quantitatively retained on the disk in the pH range of 3–7 at a flow rate of 1–7 mL min⁻¹. The Fe(III) eluted with 10 mL of 0.01 M EDTA and than was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) at 248.3 nm. The maximum capacity disk modified by 7 mg of ligand was found to be 197 ± 2 μg of iron(III). The breakthrough volume was greater than 2000 mL. The iron(III) was completely recovered (> 99%) from water with a preconcentration factor of more than 200. The limit of detection of the proposed method was 1.00 ng mL⁻¹. The various cationic and anionic interferences had no effect on the recovery of iron(III) from the binary mixtures. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of total iron from three different water samples.     

Synergistic extraction behavior of samarium(III), europium(III) and dysprosium(III) with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol and 1,10-phenanthroline

The equilibrium extraction behavior of Sm(III), Eu(III) and Dy(III) from aqueous NaClO₄ solutions in the pH range of 4–9 at 0.1 M ionic strength into organic solutions of 1-nitroso-2-naphthol (HA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) has been studied. The equilibrium concentrations of Eu were assayed through the 344 keV photopeak of the¹⁵²Eu radiotracer used. The concentrations of Sm and Dy were measured by irradiating one mL portions of the organic extract and analyzing the 104 and 108 keV photopeaks of the short-lived neutron activation products,¹⁵⁵Sm and^165mDy, respectively. Quantitative extraction of Eu with 5×10^–2 M HA alone was obtained in the pH range of 6.7–7.8 with n-butanol, 7.4–8.5 with chloroform, 8.0–8.7 with ethyl acetate, 7.7–8.5 with isoamyl alcohol and 6.1–8.0 with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). But, Eu was extracted only to a maximum of 78% and 83% in the pH range of 8.3–8.9 and 7.4–8.1 with carbon tetrachloride and xylene, respectively. The extraction of Sm and Dy were found quantitative in the pH range of 6.3–7.0 and 6.6–7.1, respectively, with 5×10^–2 M HA alone in MIBK solutions. The synergistic extraction of Eu was quantitative in the pH range of 6.6–9.8 with chloroform, 7.8–8.9 with ethyl acetate, 7.7–8.5 with isoamyl alcohol and 6.0–9.6 with MIBK when 1×10^–2 M each of HA and Phen were employed. Sm and Dy were quantitatively extracted into MIBK solutions containing 5×10^–2 M each of HA and Phen in the pH range 6.0–7.5 and 6.1–7.5, respectively. The distribution ratios of these lanthanides (Ln) were determined as a function of pH, and HA and Phen concentrations. The analysis of the data suggests that these Ln are extracted as LnA₃ chelates when HA alone is used. In the presence of HA and Phen, both LnA₃(Phen) and LnA₃(Phen)₂ adducts are formed only in the MIBK system while LnA₃(Phen) complexes are the predominant ones in all other solvent systems studied. The extraction constants and the adduct formation constants of these complexes have been calculated.     

Indirect determination of perchlorate by atomic absorption spectrometry

A liquid-liquid extraction and determination of perchlorate by atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The method involves extraction of perchlorate with the Schiffs base complex [Co(BPTC)₂]⁺, where BPTC = 2-benzoyl pyridine thiosemicarbazone, in methyl isobutyl ketone in acidic medium and subsequent analysis of cobalt in flame AAS, hence indirectly for perchlorate. The extraction efficiency is 98%. The calibration graph was found to be linear for 1.0–11.4 g ClO ₄ ^– per ml of solvent, and the limit of detection is 30 ng ml^–1. The present method is free from interference of large number of foreign ions. The method has been applied for determination of perchlorate in human blood serum samples spiked with perchlorate, urine and commercial potassium chlorate sample.     

Use of solid-phase extraction to eliminate interferences in the determination of mercury by flow-injection CV AAS

Solid-phase extraction with two-step elution has been developed for effective elimination of copper and iron interference with mercury determination by flow-injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS). Sodium tetrahydroborate(III) was used as reducing agent. Cation-exchanger Dowex 50Wx4 was applied for the sorption of mercury and both interfering ions. In the first step elution of Cu(II) and Fe(III) was performed using 0.5 mol L^–1 KF solution. Then mercury was eluted with 0.1% thiourea in 8% HCl. The detection limit (3) for Hg(II) was 27 ng L^–1. The expanded uncertainty estimated for the whole procedure was about 6%. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by determination of the recovery of known amount of mercury added to mineral, spring, and tap waters, and by analysis of a certified reference material BCR-144R (sewage sludge).     

Selective determination of total vanadium in water samples by cloud point extraction of its ternary complex

A highly sensitive micelle-mediated extraction methodology for the preconcentration of trace levels of vanadium as a prior step to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been developed. Vanadium was complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium (0.2 mol L⁻¹ phosphoric acid) using Triton X-100 as surfactant and quantitatively extracted into a small volume of the surfactant-rich phase after centrifugation. The color reaction of vanadium ions with hydrogen peroxide and PAN in phosphoric acid medium is highly selective. The chemical variables affecting cloud point extraction (CPE) were evaluated and optimized. The R.S.D. for 5 replicate determinations at the 20 μg L⁻¹ V level was 3.6%. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for vanadium was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 0.6 μg L⁻¹. The method has good sensitivity and selectivity and was applied to the determination of trace amounts of vanadium in water samples with satisfactory result. The proposed method is a rare application of CPE-atomic spectrometry to vanadium assay, and is superior to most other similar methods, because its useful pH range is in the moderately acidic range achieved with phosphoric acid. At this pH, many potential interferents are not chelated with PAN, and iron(III) as the major interferent is bound in a stable phosphate complex.     

Reverse flow injection spectrophotometric determination of iron(III) using norfloxacin

A reversed flow injection colorimetric procedure for determining iron(III) at the μg level was proposed. It is based on the reaction between iron(III) with norfloxacin (NRF) in 0.07 mol l⁻¹ ammonium sulfate solution, resulting in an intense yellow complex with a suitable absorption at 435 nm. Optimum conditions for determining iron(III) were investigated by univariate method. The method involved injection of a 150 μl of 0.04% w/v colorimetric reagent solution into a merged streams of sample and/or standard solution containing iron(III) and 0.07 mol l⁻¹ ammonium sulfate in sulfuric acid (pH 3.5) solution which was then passed through a single bead string reactor. Subsequently the absorbance as peak height was monitored at 435 nm. Beer's law obeyed over the range of 0.2–1.4 μg ml⁻¹ iron(III). The method has been applied to the determination of total iron in water samples digested with HNO₃–H₂O₂ (1:9 v/v). Detection limit (3σ) was 0.01 μg ml⁻¹ the sample through of 86 h⁻¹ and the coefficient of variation of 1.77% (n=12) for 1 μg ml⁻¹ Fe(III) were achieved with the recovery of the spiked Fe(III) of 92.6–99.8%.     

Diffuse reflectance spectra of iron(III) vanadates

The electronic spectra of solid iron(III) vanadates FeVO₄ and Fe₂V₄O₁₃ were investigated by the diffuse reflectance technique in the spectral range 12 500–50 000 cm⁻¹. The spectra of investigated vanadates contain 2–3 intensive CT bands in the UV region and two lowest energy d–d bands in the 12 000–22 000 cm⁻¹ range. The presence of the weak bands for FeVO₄ and Fe₂V₄O₁₃ at 16 500 cm⁻¹ and 20 500 cm⁻¹ points to the lattice deffects (oxygen deficiency and the presence of the V⁴⁺ ions) in the structure of investigated vanadates.     

Solvent bar microextraction combined with electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the speciation of inorganic arsenic in water samples

A new method of solvent bar microextraction (SBME) combined with electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) for the speciation of As(III) and As(V) in water samples was developed. The method is based on the chelation of As(III) and ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) under the selected conditions, and the As(III)-PDC complex could be extracted into the organic phase, while As(V) remained in aqueous solution. The post-extraction organic phase was directly injected into ETV-ICP-MS for determination of As(III) with the use of iridium as permanent chemical modifier. As(V) was reduced to As(III) by L-cysteine and was then subjected to SBME prior to total As determination. The assay of As(V) was based on subtracting As(III) from total As. The factors affecting on the SBME, such as organic solvent, sample pH, chelating reagent concentration, stirring rate and extraction time, and chemical modification of iridium in ETV-ICP-MS have been studied. Under the optimized conditions, the enrichment factor of 220-fold could be achieved in 15 min extraction, the limit of detection (LOD) for As(III) was 0.32 pg mL^− 1, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 8.8% (0.1 ng mL^− 1, n = 9). Compared with hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME), SBME has a higher enrichment factor and faster extraction kinetics. In order to validate the accuracy of the method, a Certified Reference Material of GSBZ50004-88 (No. 200420) water sample was analyzed and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values. The developed method was also applied to the speciation of inorganic As in environmental waters with satisfactory results.     

Simple and Selective Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Iron (III) and Total Iron Content, Based on the Reaction of Fe(III) with 1,2-Dihydroxy-3,4-Diketocyclo-Butene (Squaric Acid)

 Squaric acid (1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-diketo-cyclobutene) is used in a specific reaction with Fe(III) for the spectrophotometric determination of Fe(III) and total iron content. The optimization of the experimental parameters leads to the establishment of a simple, fast and accurate analytical method. The analytical procedure includes mixing ammonium squarate (40 mM), prepared in a phthalate buffer solution of pH 2.7, with the sample and measuring the absorbance at 515 nm. The molar absorptivity of the colored product is 3.95×10³ L·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹, at 515 nm. Calibration graphs for Fe(III) are rectilinear for 0.5–20 mgL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.3 mgL⁻¹ and r.s.d. not exceeding 2.5%, for five replicates of a 3.0 mgL⁻¹ standard solution. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of iron (III) and the total iron content after quantitative oxidation of iron (II). The results for several analyzed samples when compared with those acquired by using the FAAS technique, were found to be in satisfactory agreement. Author for correspondence: University of Ioannina, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Ioannina 451 10, Greece. E-mail: panavelt@cc.uoi.gr Received July 27, 2002; accepted December 20, 2002 Published online April 11, 2003     

Solid-phase extraction of iron(III) with an ion-imprinted functionalized silica gel sorbent prepared by a surface imprinting technique

A new Fe(III)-imprinted amino-functionalized silica gel sorbent was prepared by a surface imprinting technique for selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) of Fe(III) prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Compared with non-imprinted polymer particles, the ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) had higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for Fe(III). The maximum static adsorption capacity of the ion-imprinted and non-imprinted sorbent for Fe(III) was 25.21 and 5.10 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The largest selectivity coefficient of the Fe(III)-imprinted sorbent for Fe(III) in the presence of Cr(III) was over 450. The relatively selective factor (α_r) values of Fe(III)/Cr(III) were 49.9 and 42.4, which were greater than 1. The distribution ratio (D) values of Fe(III)-imprinted polymers for Fe(III) were greatly larger than that for Cr(III). The detection limit (3σ) was 0.34 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation of the method was 1.50% for eight replicate determinations. The method was validated by analyzing two certified reference materials (GBW 08301 and GBW 08303), the results obtained is in good agreement with standard values. The developed method was also successfully applied to the determination of trace iron in plants and water samples with satisfactory results.