Complex formation of trivalent americium with salicylic acid at very low concentrations

For the first time, the complexation of americium(III) with salicylic acid was studied at trace metal concentrations using a 2.0 m Long Path Flow Cell for UV–vis spectroscopy. The detection limit of Am(III) in aqueous solution at pH 3.0 was found to be 5 × 10⁻⁹ M. Two Am(III)-salicylate complexes were formed at pH 5.0 in 0.1 M NaClO₄, indicated by a clear red shift of the absorption maximum. The absorption spectra obtained from spectrophotometric titration were analyzed by means of factor analysis and complex stabilities were calculated to be log β₁₁₀ = 2.56 ± 0.08 and log β₁₂₀ = 3.93 ± 0.19.