Ion-pair extraction and fluorimetric determination of ultratraces of strontium with cryptand 2.2.2 and eosin

A highly sensitive and selective fluorimetric determination of strontium is proposed, based on solvent extraction of the ion-pair formed between the cationic complex of Sr²⁺ with cryptand 2.2.2 and eosinate as counter ion. A linear working range from 0.7 ng/ml (limit of detection) to 500 ng/ml of strontium and a relative standard deviation of 3.5% at the 100 ng/ml level are obtained. The metal: ligand: counter ion molecular ratio in the extracted mononuclear ion-pair is 1 1 1. The equilibrium constants involved in the extraction process were calculated.