Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of trace amount of Pd(II) with 2,2'-dithiodianiline

A method for the extraction-spectrophotometric determination of palladium with 2,2′-dithiodianilline (DTDA) is described. DTDA–Pd(II) complex is extracted from an aqueous solution with pH 3 into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) layer. The absorbance is measured at 397 nm and the molar absorptivity found to be 1.47×10⁶ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The complex system conforms to Beer's law over the range 0.3–220 ng ml⁻¹ palladium (II). The effect of pH (1–6), NaClO₄ concentration, DTDA concentration and shaking time were studied. The ratio of the metal ion to ligand molecules in the complex and its stability constant were found to be 1:1 and 1.45×10⁶, respectively. The tolerance limit for many cations and anions have been determined. Finally the method has been applied successfully to the determination of palladium in synthetic mixtures, alloy and catalyst samples.