Flow-injection extraction-spectrophotometric determination of permanganate with the ethylene-bis(triphenylphosphonium) cation

Permanganate is determined spectrophotometrically at 545 nm after extraction into chloroform of the ion-associate, ethylene -bis (triphenylphosphonium) permanganate. The carrier stream is pH 6 buffer containing 10% (w/v) ammonium fluoride and the reagent stream is 0.25% (w/v) ethylene-bis (triphenylphosphonium) bromide. The injection rate is 24 h^?1. Th calibration graph is linear up to 25 μg ml^?1 and the detection limit is 0.58 μg m^?1 Mn (VII), based on 250- μl injections. The system is applied to the determination of manganese in a range of steels.