Second-Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of Trace Copper after Preconcentration with the Ion Pair of 2-Nitroso-1-Naphthol-4-Sulfonic Acid and Tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride on Microcrystalline Naphthalene or a Column

Copper is quantitatively retained by 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 7.1–10.7 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of a copper complex and naphthalene is dissolved with 5 mL of dimethylformamide, and the metal is determined by second-derivative spectrophotometry. The copper complex can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium–naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 1.5 g of copper can be concentrated in a column from 300 mL of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 5 ng/mL. The effects of pH, the volume of the aqueous phase, and interferences from a number of metal ions on the determination of copper have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its determination in standard alloys and biological samples.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of tin in alloys and environmental samples after preconcentration with the ion pair of 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride onto microcrystalline naphthalene or by column method

A highly selective, sensitive, rapid and economical differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the determination of trace amount of tin in various standard alloys and environmental samples after adsorption of its 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range of 8.7-10.6. After filtration, the solid mass is shaken with 8-10 ml of 3.5 M hydrochloric acid and tin is determined by differential pulse polarography (DPP). Tin can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The detection limit is 0.15 mug ml(-1) (signal to noise ratio=2) and the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.5-220 mug ml(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995 and relative standard deviation of +/-0.88%. Characterization of the electroactive process included an examination of the degree of reversibility. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of tin has been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for determination in standard alloys and environmental samples.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of lead in complex materials after adsorption of its N-methylethylxanthocarbamate complex on microcrystalline naphthalene or on N-methylethylxanthocarbamate-benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium-naphthalene adsorbent

Lead is quantitatively adsorbed as the lead N-methylethylxanthocarbamate (MEXC)-benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium (BDTA) ion pair complex on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.0-11.0. The metal is desorbed with HCI and determined by differential pulse polarography. Alternatively lead can be quantitatively adsorbed on the adsorbent (MEXC-BDTA-naphthalene) packed in a column at a flow rate of 1-2 mL/min and determined similarly. Dissolved oxygen is removed by adding a few milliliters of 4% NaBH4 solution. The detection limit is 0.12 microg/mL at the minimum instrumental settings (signal-to-noise ratio, 2). Linearity was obtained over the concentration range 0.3-20.0 microg/mL with a correlation factor of 0.9998 and a relative standard deviation of +/- 0.98%. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase, flow rate, and the interference of a large number of metal ions and anions, were studied in detail to optimize the conditions for the trace determination of lead in various standard alloys, standard biological materials, and environmental samples.     

N-Methylethylxanthocarbamate as an Analytical Reagent: Differential Pulse Polarographic Determination of Cadmium in Standard Alloys, Biological and Environmental Samples after Adsorption of its Complex on Microcrystalline Naphthalene

N-methylethylxanthocarbamate has been used as an analytical reagent for the determination of trace amounts of cadmium in standard alloys, biological, and environmental samples. The reagent has been found to form a water insoluble complex with cadmium. It is quantitatively adsorbed over microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 2.5 to 12.0. The metal complex is desorbed with HCl and cadmium determined with a differential pulse polarograph. The detection limit is 0.05 ppm (signal-to-noise ratio = 2) and the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.2–25 g/ml, with correlation coefficient of 0.9995 and a relative standard deviation of ±0.81%. Characterization of the electroactive process includes an examination of the degree of reversibility. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH, reagent concentration, amount of naphthalene, volume of aqueous phase, and the interference of a large number of metal ions on the determination of cadmium, have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its determination in various complex materials.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of lead in standard alloys and biological samples after separation and preconcentration with PAN

A highly selective, sensitive, rapid and economical differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the determination of trace amount of lead in various samples after adsorption of its 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) on naphthalene in the pH range of 8.4 - 11.5. After filtration, the solid mass is shaken with 9.0 ml of 1 M hydrochloric acid and lead is determined by differential pulse polarography (DPP). Lead can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The detection limit is 0.1 microg/ml (signal to noise ratio = 2) and the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.3 - 300 microg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 and relative standard deviation of +/- 1.1%. Characterization of the electroactive process included an examination of the degree of reversibility. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of lead has been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for determination in alloys and biological samples.     

Application of 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic Acid for the Separation and Preconcentration of Trace Molybdenum and Its Determination by Third Derivative Spectrophotometry

Molybdenum was quantitatively extracted form large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples by 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid (Tiron) and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (TDBA) on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 6.5–8.5. After filtration, the solid residue consisting of molybdenum complex and naphthalene was dissolved in 5 mL of chloroform and molybdenum was determined by third derivative spectrophotometry. Alternatively, molybdenum can be quantitatively adsorbed on Tiron-TDBA-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined in a similar manner. About 0.02 µg of molybdenum can be concentrated in a column from 500 mL of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 0.04 ng/mL. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, the volume of the aqueous phase, and the interference of a number of metal ions with the determination of molybdenum have been studied in detail to optimize the analysis of standard alloys and biological samples.__________From Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 7, 2005, pp. 698–702.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Mohammad Ali Taher, Sayed Ziae Mohammadi Mobarakeh.The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Determination of trace levels of manganese in various biological and environmental samples by atomic absorption spectrometry after solid-liquid extraction and preconcentration with the ion pair formed by the nitroso-S anion and the tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium cation.

Manganese is quantitatively retained by 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (nitroso-S) and tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium (TDBA) chloride on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 9.5-10.6 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the manganese complex and naphthalene is dissolved in 5 mL dimethylformamide and the metal is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Alternatively, the manganese complex can be quantitatively adsorbed on TDBA-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 0.2 microg manganese can be concentrated in a column from 400 mL aqueous sample with a concentration as low as 0.5 ng/mL. Eight replicate determinations of manganese at 0.8 microg/mL gave a mean absorbance of 0.156 for the final solution with a relative standard deviation of 1.4%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 23 ng/mL. The interference of a large number of anions and cations was studied, and the optimized conditions developed were used for trace determinations of manganese in various alloys, and in biological and environmental samples.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace amounts of nickel after preconcentration with [1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-Naphthol]-Naphthalene adsorbent or after adsorption of its complex on microcrystalline naphthalene

An atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of trace amounts of nickel after adsorption of its 1 -(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol complex on microcrystalline naphthalene has been developed. This complex is adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.5-7.8 from large volumes of aque ous solutions of various alloys and biological and environmental samples containing nickel. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of nickel complex and naphthalene was dissolved in 5 mL of dimethylformamide, and the metal was determined using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer at a wavelength of 232 nm. Alternatively, nickel can be quantitatively adsorbed on [l-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 2.0-100 Μg of nickel in 5 mL of the final dimethylformamide solution. Eight replicate determinations of 20 Μg of nickel give a mean absorbance of 0.072 with a relative standard deviation of 1.3%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption is 0.24 Μg/mL. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, the volume of the aqueous phase, and the interference of a large number of metal ions with the determination of nickel have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its determination in various standard alloys and biological and environmental samples. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Simultaneous determination of lead and cadmium in various environmental and biological samples by differential pulse polarography after adsorption of their morpholine-4-carbodithioates onto microcrystalline naphthalene or morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate-CTMAB-naphthalene adsorbent

A highly selective, sensitive and rapid differential pulse polarographic method (DPP) has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of trace amounts of lead and cadmium in standard alloys, biological and environmental samples. The morpholine-4-carbodithioates of the samples were absorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range of 5-10 for lead and 3.4-11 for cadmium. The metal complexes were desorbed with 10 ml of 1M HCl and determined simultaneously with a differential pulse polarograph. These metals can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The detection limits are 0.14 ppm for Pb and 0.014 ppm for Cd at minimum instrumental settings (signal-to-noise ratio = 2). The linearity is maintained in the concentration ranges of Pb, 0.7-15 ppm and Cd, 0.07-10 ppm with a correlation factor of 0.9997 and relative standard deviations of 0.95 and 0.81%, respectively. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase, and interference of a number of metal ions on the estimation of lead and cadmium have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for their simultaneous estimation in various biological and environmental samples.     

Column preconcentration of trace manganese with the ion pair of 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid tetradecyldimethylbenzyl-ammonium chloride supported on naphthalene and determination by derivative spectrophotometry

A column preconcentration method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of manganese by preconcentration on 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (nitroso-S)-tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium (TDBA) naphthalene as an adsorbent using a simple funnel tipped glass tube. Manganese reacts with nitroso-S to form a water soluble brown colored chelate anion. The chelate anion forms a water insoluble Mn-Nitroso-S-TDBA ion pair on naphthalene packed in a column in the pH range 9.6-10.5 at a flow rate of 1-2 ml/min. The solid mass consisting of manganese complex and naphthalene is dissolved in 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and the metal determined by second derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range 0.25-35.0 micrograms of Mn in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. Eight replicate determinations of 25 micrograms of standard manganese solution give a mean peak height of 4.0 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995 and relative standard deviation of +/- 1.1%. The sensitivity was calculated to be 0.502(d2 A/d lambda 2)/microgram ml-1 from the slope of the calibration curve. The detection limit was 0.020 microgram ml-1 for manganese at the minimum instrumental settings (signal to noise ratio = 2). Various parameters effecting the method such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of manganese have been evaluated to optimize the conditions for its determination in standard alloys and biological samples.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace chromium in various standard samples after preconcentration with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol

Chromium can be quantitatively retained as 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP)-tetra-phenylborate(TPB) complex onto microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.8-5.9 from a large volume of aqueous solutions of various standard samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the chromium complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 mL of dimethylformamide and the metal was determined by air-acetylene FAAS. A detection limit of 4 ng/mL for chromium was established. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed were utilized for the trace determination of chromium in various standard alloys and biological samples.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of trace amounts of vanadium and molybdenum in various standard alloys and environmental samples after preconcentration of their morpholine-4-carbodithioates on microcrystalline naphthalene or morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide-naphthalene adsorbent

A highly selective, sensitive, and fairly rapid and economical differential pulse polarographic (DPP) method has been reported for the determination of trace amounts of vanadium and molybdenum in standard alloys and various environmental samples. The morpholine-4-carbodithioates of these metals were retained (>99% recovery) quantitatively on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.5-6.9 for vanadium and 1.5-4.5 for molybdenum. These metals were determined by DPP after desorption with 10 ml of 1 M HCl. Vanadium and molybdenum may also be preconcentrated by passing their aqueous solutions under similar conditions on morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate CTMAB-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column at a flow rate of 1-5 ml min(-1) and determined similarly. The detection limits are 0.20 ppm for vanadium and 0.04 ppm for molybdenum at minimum instrumental settings (signal to noise ratio=2). The linearity is maintained in the following concentration ranges, vanadium 0.50-10.0 and molybdenum 0.10-9.0 ppm, with a correlation factor of 0.9996 (confidence interval of 95%, slopes 0.0196 and 0.01497 muA mug(-1), intercepts 3.65x10(-3) and -1.92x10(-3) respectively) and relative standard deviation of 1.1% in the microcrystalline method, while in the column method, the linearity is maintained in the concentration ranges, 0.50-6.5 for vanadium and 0.10-5.5 ppm for molybdenum with correlation factor of 0.9994 (with confidence interval of 95%, slopes 0.0194, 0.015 muA mug(-1), intercepts 3.60x10(-3) and -1.90x10(-3) respectively) and relative standard deviation of 1.4%. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, reagent, naphthalene and CTMAB concentrations, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a large number of metal ions on the estimation of vanadium and molybdenum have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for their voltammetric determination at trace level in various standard alloys and environmental samples.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace chromium in various standard samples after preconcentration with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol

Chromium can be quantitatively retained as 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP)-tetraphenylborate(TPB) complex onto microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 4.8–5.9 from a large volume of aqueous solutions of various standard samples. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the chromium complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 mL of dimethylformamide and the metal was determined by air-acetylene FAAS. A detection limit of ¶4 ng/mL for chromium was established. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions developed were utilized for the trace determination of chromium in various standard alloys and biological samples.     

Differential pulse polarography determination of indium after column preconcentration with [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent or its complex on microcrystalline naphthalene

A highly selective, sensitive and economical differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the determination of trace amount of indium in various samples after adsorption of its 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol on naphthalene in the pH range of 6.5-11.5. After filtration, the solid mass is shaken with 8 ml of 1 M hydrochloric acid and indium is determined by differential pulse polarography (DDP). Indium can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. The detection limit is 0.2 ppm (signal to noise ratio=2) and the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.8-125 ppm with a correlation coefficient of 0.9994 and relative standard deviation of +/-0.96%. Characterization of the electroactive process included an examination of the degree of reversibility. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of indium have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for determination in various samples.     

Chromatographic preconcentration of copper in environmental and biological samples using 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine-tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent

A method was established for the determination of trace amounts of copper using chromatographic preconcentration of copper(I) with 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and tetraphenylborate. Copper is quantitatively adsorbed on this adsorbent in the pH range 1.8–10.5 and at flow-rates of 0.2–10 ml/min. The solid mass consisting of copper complex along with naphthalene is dissolved from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide. A calibration curve is obeyed over the concentration range 0.2–10.0 g of copper in 5 ml of dimethylformamide. Eight replicate determinations of 3 g of copper gave a mean absorbance of 0.185 with a relative standard deviation of 1.4%. The characteristic concentration for 1% absorption is 0.0143 g/ml (0.103 gmg/ml for direct AAS in aqueous medium). The interference of various ion and salts has been studied and the proposed method has been employed to the determination of copper in biological and water samples.     

Preconcentration of Indium(III) from Complex Materials After Adsorption of Its Morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate on Naphthalene or Using Morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate-cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide-naphthalene Adsorbent

Abstract

A highly selective, sensitive and rapid differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the estimation of trace amounts of indium in standard alloy, ore, synthetic and environmental samples. The morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate of indium(III) is adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 3.5–6.4. The metal complex is desorbed with HCl and determined with a differential pulse polarograph (DPP). This metal may alternatively be quantitatively retained on morpholine-4-dithiocarbamate-cetyltrimethylammonium bromidenaphthalene adsorbent packed in a column at a flow rate of 0.5–5.0 ml/min and determined similarly. The detection limit is 0.10 ppm at the minimum instrumental setting (signal to noise ratio = 2). Indium has been determined in the concentration range 0.70–15.0 ppm with a correlation factor of 0.9996 and a relative standard deviation of 0.76% (n = 8). In the column method, the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.70–8.5 ppm with a correlation factor of 0.9994 and a relative standard deviation of 0.89% (n = 8). Various parameters, such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase, reagent, and naphthalene concentrations and interference of a large number of metal ions and anions on the estimation of indium have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its trace determination in various complex materials.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace zinc in alloys and biological samples after preconcentration with [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol] on microcrystalline naphthalene

An atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of trace amounts of zinc after adsorption of its [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol] complex on microcrystalline naphthalene has been developed. This complex is adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range 3.5-7.5 from large volumes of aqueous solutions of various alloys and biological samples with a preconcentration factor of 40. After filtration, the solid mass consisting of the zinc complex and naphthalene was dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide and the metal was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc can alternatively be quantitatively adsorbed on [1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol]-naphthalene adsorbent packed in a column and determined similarly. About 0.5 ng of zinc can be concentrated in a column from 200 ml of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 2.5 pg ml-1. The calibration curve is linear in the range 0.1-6.5 ng ml-1 in dimethylformamide solution. Eight replicate determinations of 2 ng ml-1 of zinc gave a mean absorbance of 0.145 with a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.061 ng ml-1. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH and the interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of zinc, have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for the determination of zinc in various standard complex materials.     

Column chromatographic pre-concentration of iron(III) in alloys and biological samples with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate and benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium-perchlorate adsorbent supported on naphthalene using atomic absorption spectrometry

The solid ion-pair material produced from the reaction between benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride (BDTA) and sodium perchlorate on naphthalene provides the basis for a simple, rapid and selective technique for pre-concentrating iron from up to 500 ml of aqueous solution. Iron reacts with disodium 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate (Nitroso-R salt) to form a water-soluble coloured chelate anion. The iron chelate anion forms a water-insoluble, stable iron-Nitroso-R-BDTA complex on naphthalene packed in a column. Trace amounts of iron are quantitatively retained on naphthalene in the pH range 3.5-7.5 and at a flow-rate of 1-2 ml min-1. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide and iron is determined by means of an atomic absorption spectrometer at 248 nm. The calibration graph is linear for concentrations of iron over the range of 0.5-20 micrograms in 5 ml of final solution. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation were calculated. The detection limit of the method was 0.0196 micrograms ml-1 of iron. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.072 microgram ml-1 (0.165 microgram ml-1 by direct atomic absorption spectrometry of aqueous solution). The proposed method was applied to the determination of iron in standard alloys and biological samples.     

Derivative spectrophotometric determination of iridium after preconcentration of its 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol complex on microcrystalline naphthalene

Iridium is preconcentrated from the large volume of its aqueous solution using 1-(2-pyridylazo-2-naphthol) (PAN) on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH range of 4.5-6.0. The solid mass after filtration is dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and the metal determined by first derivative spectrophotometry. The detection limit is 20 ppb (signal to noise ratio = 2) and the calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.25-75.0 mug in 5 ml of the final DMF solution with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 and relative standard deviation of +/- 1.1%. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, volume of aqueous phase, choice of solvent, reagent and naphthalene concentration, shaking time and interference of a number of metal ions on the determination of trace amount of iridium have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for its determination in synthetic samples corresponding to various standard alloys and environmental samples.     

Ammonium tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent for the preconcentration and trace determination of uranium in standard alloys and synthetic samples using 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from ammonium tetraphenylborate (ATPB) and naphthalene has been used for the preconcentration of uranium from the large volume of its aqueous complex samples. Uranium reacts with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) to form a water insoluble, coloured complex. This complex is quantitatively retained on the ATPB-naphthalene adsorbent filled in a column in the pH range 7.0–9.5 and at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. The solid mass from the column is dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and uranium is determined by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range of 0.13–15.0 g of uranium in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. Seven replicate determinations of 6 g of uranium gave a mean peak height (peak-to-peak signal between 592 nm and 582 nm) of 1.02 with a relative standard deviation of 0.95%. The sensitivity is 0.8419 (d⁴A/d⁴)/(g ml^–1) found from the slope of the calibration curve. The interference of a large number of anions and cations on the estimation of uranium has been studied and the method applied for the determination of uranium in coal fly ash, Zr-base alloy and some synthetic samples corresponding to standard alloys.