Extraction behavior of ion-pairs of azo-dye cations and their analytical applications

The extraction of ion-pairs of monovalent organic acid anions and inorganic anions with 4-(4-diethylaminophenylazo)-N-alkylpyridinium cation (azo-dye cation) is described. The alkyl groups studied were methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and benzyl groups. The ion association, distribution and extraction constants for the ion-pairs were determined from partition equilibrium studies. These azo-dye cations can extract chelate anions containing sulfonic acid groups into chloroform. The cobalt complex of 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid is extracted quantitatively into chloroform with the propyl derivative as a 1:3 Co: dye complex; measurement of the absorbance of the extracted ion-pair provides a very sensitive determination of cobalt, the apparent molar absorptivity in chloroform being 1.66 × 10⁵ l mol^-1 cm^-1 at 566 nm. The methyl derivative is suitable for cation extraction of monovalent anions such as the complex nickel anion of 4-chloro-2-nitroso-1-naphthol, and anionic surfactants. The possibilities for application of these azo-dye cations in extraction-spectrophotometric determinations are very large.