Extraction studies of copper with mesityl oxide

Summary A method has been developed for the extraction of copper(II) both at microgram and milligram level from bromide media using mesityl oxide as an extractant. The copper-bromo complex formed at 3.5 mol/l hydrobromic acid concentration showed quantitative extraction into mesityl oxide. Various experimental parameters such as acid concentration, period of equilibration, stripping agents and diverse ions have been studied. The stripped metal ion is monitored spectrophotometrically or by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The method is applicable to the analysis of pharmaceutical and alloy samples.