Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of germanium(IV) with mandelic acid and malachite green

A method has been developed for determination of germanium, based on complexation with mandelic acid and extraction of the ion-associate formed with Malachite Green (MG) into chlorobenzene. A weakly acidic aqueous solution (pH 2.5-3.5) at room temperature is used and indirect determination is achieved by measuring the absorbance of MG in the extract, at 628 mn. The calibration graph is linear over the range (0.17-8.63) x 10(-6) (0.05-2.50 mug of germanium); the apparent molar absorptivity is 1.33 x 10(5) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The interferences from Fe, Ti, Sn(IV), Mo, and SB(III) can be eliminated by addition of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetra-acetic acid and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate.