Voltamperometric determination of uranium and plutonium in alkaline solutions

The simultaneous determination of U(VI), Pu(VI), Pu(V) in 0.5–4.0 M NaOH has been elaborated by means of classical and differential pulse voltamperometry. U(VI) is determined with a dropping mercury electrode (DME) at the half-wave potential of E_1/2=–0.89 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode due to reduction to U(V). The limiting current or peak heights are proportional to uranium(VI) concentration in the range of 1.3.10^–7–3·10^–4 M U(VI). Deviation from proportionality is observed for higher concentrations due to polymerization of uranates. Pu(VI) and Pu(V) are determined with a platinum rotating electrode at E_1/2=–0.02 V due to the reaction Pu(VI)+e^–»Pu(V) and with DME at E_1/2=–1.1 V due to the reduction to Pu(III). The limiting currents of both Pu(VI) and Pu(V) are proportional to their concentrations in the range of 4·10^–6–1.2·10^–3 M Pu. The determination of U(VI), Pu(VI), Pu(V) is not interfered by the presence of the following salts: 2M NaNO₃, 2M NaNO₂, 1.5M NaAlO₂, 0.5M NaF and ions of Mo(VI), W(VI), V(V), Cu(II). The presence of CrO ₄ ^2– and FeO ₂ ^– ions disturbs the determination of U(VI) in 1–4M NaOH, however, contribution of the reaction Fe(III)+e^–»Fe(II) to uranium reduction peak can be calculated from the height of the second peak Fe(II)+2 e^–»Fe(0).     

Flow Analysis of Transition Metals by Thermal Lensing

The conditions for the flow determination of Al(III), Bi(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Nd(III), Ni(II), Pb(II), Pr(III), and Zn(II) by reaction with Xylenol Orange in aqueous solutions at pH 4.5 and the determination of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) by reaction with 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol in water–ethanol mixtures (5 : 1) at pH 5.0 using an injected sample volume of 80 L were proposed. The limits of detection were n × 10^–8–n × 10^–7 mol/L; the linearity ranges in the calibration graphs were of about three orders of magnitude; the relative standard deviation was of 3–7%.     

Spectrophotometric determination of iron after separation of its 9,10-phenanthrenequinone monoximate on microcrystalline naphthalene

A sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of iron as Fe(II) or Fe(III) using 9,10-phenanthrenequinone monoxime (PQM) as the complexing agent. Fe(II) and Fe(III) react with PQM to form coloured water insoluble complexes which can be adsorbed on microcrystalline naphthalene in the pH ranges 3.7–6.2 and 2.0–8.4, respectively. The solid mass consisting of the metal complex and naphthalene is dissolved in DMF and the metal determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbances Fe(II) at 745 nm and Fe(III) at 425 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.5–20.0 g of iron(II) and 20–170.0 g of Fe(III) in 10 ml of DMF solution. The molar absorptivities are 1.333 × 10⁴ 1 · mole^–1 · cm^–1 for Fe(II) and 2.428 × 10³1· mole^–1 · cm^–1 for Fe(III). The precision of determination is better than 1%. The interference of various ions has been studied and the method has been employed for the determination of iron in various standard reference alloys, bears, wines, ferrous gluconate, human hair and environmental samples.     

Study of Cr(VI)-2-oximinodimedone dithiosemicarbazone reaction and simultaneous determination of Cr(VI) and Fe(III)

Summary 2-Oximinodimedone dithiosemicarbazone reacts with Cr(VI) in strongly acid medium. The orange colour obtained has been used to propose a spectrophotometric method of Cr(VI) determination in the concentration range 0.40–9.5g ml^–1 (=5600 mole^–1-cm^–1 at 485 nm). The stoichiometry of the reaction is 32 (reagentCr(VI)) which is in accordance with the oxidation reaction of the reagent by Cr(VI). The method has been applied to the determination of Cr(VI) and Fe(III) in ceramic materials.

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Eine Studie zur Cr(VI)-2-oximinodimedondithiosemicarbazon-Reaktion und die simultane Bestimmung von Cr(VI) und Fe(III)

Zusammenfassung 2-Oximinodimedonedithiosemicarbazon reagiert in stark saurem Milieu mit Cr(VI). Die orange Farbe kann im Konzentrationsbereich von 0.4–9,5g/ml zur spektrophotometrischen Cr(VI)-Bestimmung verwendet werden (=5600 1 mol^–1cm^–1bei 485 nm). Die Stöchiometrie der Reaktion ist 32 (Reagens: Cr(VI)) und entspricht der Oxidation des Reagens durch Cr(VI). Die Methode wurde zur Bestimmung von Cr(VI) und Fe(III) in keramischen Materialien eingesetzt.

     

Determination of Cr(VI) in the presence of Cr(III) and humic acid by cathodic stripping voltammetry

A voltammetric procedure in the flow system for determination of traces of Cr(VI) in the presence of Cr(III) and humic acid is presented. The calibration graph is linear from 5×10⁻¹⁰ to 1×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ for an accumulation time of 120 s. The R.S.D. for 1×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ Cr(VI) is 5.3% (n=5). The detection limit estimated from 3σ for a low concentration of Cr(VI) and accumulation time of 120 s is 2×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹. The method can be used for Cr(VI) determination in the presence of up to 50 mg l⁻¹ of humic acid. The validation of the method was carried out by studying the recovery of Cr(VI) from spiked river water and by the comparison of the results of determination of Cr(VI) in a soil sample. The method cannot be used for analysis of samples containing high concentrations of chloride ions such as seawater and estuarine water.     

Test Determination of Lead and Zinc in Water with the Use of Xylenol Orange Immobilized on Silica

Xylenol Orange immobilized on silica as a complex of iron(III) was used for the test determination of lead(II) and zinc(II) in drinking water over concentration ranges of 10–100 and 13–130 g/L, respectively. The maximum distribution coefficients were found to be 7.50 × 10³ mL/g for Pb and 3.75 × 10³ mL/g for Zn. The macro main trace components of water at a level of their maximum permissible concentrations caused no interference. Al(III), Fe(III), and Zn(II) in the presence of NH₄F did not interfere with the determination of Pb(II), whereas lead in the presence of acetate caused no interference with the determination of Zn(II).     

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum by extraction of its thiosulphate complex

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum is described. The molybdenum thiosulphate complex is extracted into isoamyl alcohol from 1·0–1·5M hydrochloric acid containing 36–40 mg of Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O per ml. The absorbance at λ_max = 475 nm obeys Beer's law over the range 0–32 μg of Mo per ml of solvent phase. Up to 5 mg/ml of Ti(IV), V(V), Cr(VI), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), U(VI), W(VI), Sb(III), 1 mg/ml of Cu(II), Sn(II), Bi(V) and 10 μg/ml of Pt(IV) and Pd(II) do not interfere. Large amounts of complexing agents interfere. The method has been applied to analysis of synthetic and industrial samples.     

Separation and Removal of Metal Ionic Species by Polymer Inclusion Membranes

Competitive alkali metal cation transport across polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing sym-(alkyl)dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid carriers provides excellent selectivity for Na⁺ transport with the total fluxes being strongly influenced by the length of the alkyl chain that is attached geminal to the functional side arm in the lariat ether. Removal of chromium(VI) anions by PIMs from acidic aqueous phases was also investigated. Using tri-n-octylamine (TOA) as the ion carrier, Cr(VI) was removed by a PIM to decrease the source phase metal concentration from 1.0 to 0.010 ppm after 30 hours of transport. Competitive transport of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) ions from acidic source phases through PIMs and supported liquid membranes (SLMs) containing TOA and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as carriers was evaluated and a very high Cr(VI)/Cr(III) separation ratio of 4800 was achieved with a PIM containing TOA. Competitive transport of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI) from acidic aqueous solutions through PIMs containing TOA was investigated. The selectivity order for metal ion transport was: HCrO₄ ^–>CdCl₄ ^2–+CdCl₃ ^–>ZnCl₄ ^2–+ ZnCl₃ ^–. Non-contact atomic force microscopy was used to obtain images of the pores in cellulose triacetate membranes containing a plasticizer.     

Speciation of Cr(VI)/Cr(III) by electrothermal atomisation AAS after electrodeposition on a L'vov platform

Summary The pyrolysed graphite L'vov platform of a tube furnace is considered as an electrode for the electrodeposition and speciation of chromium by electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry (ETA-AAS). Firstly, a preliminary study of the Cr(VI)/Cr(III) voltammetric behavior at pH 4.70 on a glassy-carbon electrode is carried out. Secondly, the L'vov platform is used as a cathodic macro-electrode for the selective preconcentration of Cr(VI)/Cr(III) on a mercury film. Speciation of Cr(VI)/Cr(III) is carried out on the basis of the electrolysis potential (E_e): at pH 4.70 and E_e=–0.30 V, only Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(III) and accumulated as Cr(OH)₃ by adsorption on a mercury film; at E_e=–1.80 V both Cr(VI) and Cr(III) are accumulated forming an amalgam with added mercury(II) ions. Once the film has been formed, the platform is transferred to a graphite tube to atomise the element. The reliability of the method was tested for the speciation of chromium in natural waters and it proves to be highly sensitive thanks to the electroanalytical step. In all samples, the Cr(VI) concentration was less than the detection limit (0.15 ng ml^–1), and the concentration of Cr(III) agrees with those of total chromium. The analytical recovery of Cr(VI) added to water samples [3.50 ng ml^–1 of Cr(VI)] was 105±6.2%.     

Speciation of the products from acid reduction of51Cr(VI)

Chromium speciation implies the quantitative determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). However, the presence of hydrolytic forms of Cr(III) and the instability of tracer level Cr(VI) in acid media complicates this speciation. The present work describes the stability of several monomeric Cr(III) species formed in the acid reduction of⁵¹Cr(VI). The distribution of Cr(VI) and Cr(X)_n(H₂O) _6–n ^(3–n)+ as a function of time was followed by paired cationic and anionic exchange analyses. The distributions and their time dependences are functions of the initial concentrations of both Cr(VI) and acid. The Cr(III) species eventually level to the hexaaquo form.     

Chromogenic reaction of bromopyrogallol red with tri- and hexavalent chromium in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and its application in Cr speciation

The coordination reactions of bromopyrogallol red (BPR) with tri- and hexavalent chromium in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) have been studied by absorption spectrometry. Results show that the reactions of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) with BPR in the absence or presence of CTAB have different temperature dependences. The reaction mechanism of Cr(VI) is that Cr(VI) is first reduced by BPR to Cr(III) and then the Cr(III) produced reacts with BPR. Based on the study on the coordination reactions and the effects of surfactants upon them, a simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate method for Cr speciation has been developed. Over the range of 0–8 g Cr(VI) or 0–12g Cr(III) per 25ml final volume, the calibration curve is linear with a detection limit of 3.5 × 10^–7 mol/1 for Cr(VI) or 4.4 × 10^–7 mol/1 for Cr(III).     

A novel flow injection chemiluminescence determination of Cr(VI) with Dichlorotris(1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II)

A selective novel reverse flow injection system with chemiluminescence detection (rFI-CL) for the determination of Cr(VI) in presence of Cr(III) with Dichlorotris (1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II), (Ru(phen)₃Cl₂), is described in this work. This new method is based on the oxidation capacity of Cr(VI) in H₂SO₄ media. First, the Ruthenium(II) complex is oxidized to Ruthenium(III) complex by Cr(VI) and afterwards it is reduced to the excited state of the Ruthenium(II) complex by a sodium oxalate solution, emitting light inside the detector. The intensity of chemiluminescence (CL) is proportional to the concentration of Cr(VI) and, under optimum conditions, it can be determined over the range of 3-300 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.9 μg L⁻¹. The RSD was 8.4% and 1.5% at 5 and 50 μg L⁻¹, respectively. For the rFI-CL method various analytical parameters were optimized: flow rate (1 mL min⁻¹), H₂SO₄ carrier concentration (20% w/V), Ru(phen)₃Cl₂ concentration (5 mM) and sodium oxalate concentration (0.1 M). The effect of Cr(III), Fe(III), Al(III), Cd(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), Ca(II) and Mg(II), was studied. The method is highly sensitive and selective, allowing a fast, on-line determination of Cr(VI) in the presence of Cr(III). Finally, the method was tested in four different water samples (tap, reservoir, well and mineral), with good recovery percentage.     

Low-Temperature Sorption–Luminescence Determination of Copper in Natural Water Using Silica Gel Chemically Modified with Mercapto Groups

Silica gel with mercaptopropyl groups chemically bonded to its surface extracts copper from solutions with pH 2–9 with a recovery of 99.9%; the sorption equilibration time is no longer than 5 min. Ultraviolet irradiation of wet sorbates cooled to the liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) generates yellow–orange luminescence (_max = 585 nm), which was used as the analytical signal for the development of a procedure for the low-temperature sorption–luminescence determination of copper. The detection limit is 0.08 g per 0.1 g of the sorbent. The determination of copper is unaffected by the interference from 10⁴-fold amounts of Zn(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), and Al(III); 10³-fold amounts of Fe(III); 30-fold amounts of Bi(III); tenfold amounts of Ag(I); and fivefold amounts of Cr(VI). The procedure was used for the determination of copper in natural water.     

Speciation of the reaction products of51Cr/VI/ with formic acid

The chemical behaviour of Cr/VI/ at low concentrations /10^–6–10^–7 mol.1^–1/ in several aqueous formic acid solutions was studied using high specific activity⁵¹Cr/VI/. A simple and efficient radiochromatographic method using paired cation and anion exchange analyses was used to quantify the⁵¹Cr/VI/ remaining in solution after different time periods as well as the several⁵¹Cr/III/ species formed. The product distribution of monomeric⁵¹Cr/III/ species includes those with 0, +1, +2 and +3 charges. Very little dimeric or higher polymeric species are formed. The rate of reaction of⁵¹Cr/VI/ with formic acid depends on the acid concentration, the presence or absence of sodium chloride and wheter, or not, the samples are exposed to light.     

High-sensitivity spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of Levodopa, Carbidopa and α-Methyldopa

Summary A simple, sensitive and accurate spectrophotometric method for the determination of Levodopa (LVDA)(I), Carbidopa (CBDA)(II) and -Methyldopa (-MDA)(III) at the ppb level has been developed. This method is based on the oxidation of (I), (II) and (III) by Fe(III), using a Fe(III)-o-Phenanthroline mixture and is followed by the formation of a highly stable orange-red coloured tris-complex [Fe(II)-(o-Phenanthroline)₃]²⁺ in a moderate acidic medium (pH=5.0±0.2) which exhibits an absorption maximum at =510 nm. The apparent molar absorptivities were 1.26×10⁵, 1.02×10⁵ and 1.29×10⁵ l mol^–1 cm^–1 and the Sandell's sensitivities were 1.57, 2.20 and 1.60 ng cm^–2 for (I), (II) and (III), respectively. Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range from 50 to 2500 ppb for (I) and (III) and from 100 to 4000 ppb for (II). The slope and the intercept of the regression lines for each of these drugs were calculated with correlation coefficients of 0.9999 for (I) and (III) and 0.9998 for (II). The results obtained from the determination of the drugs studied, using both the described procedure and the corresponding official method, were statistically compared by means of the Student's t-test and by the variance ratio F-test, and no significant difference was observed.     

Effect of using mixed ion-pairs on PVC-membrane electrodes for ephedrine

Mixed ion-pairs based on the use of ephedrinium (EPH)-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (II) and phenylephrine-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (III) were tried for use in plastic membranes. The results were compared to those of an EPH-reineckate (I) single ion-pair electrode. The Nernstian slopes were 50, 49 and 55 mV decade^–1 for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The linear concentration ranges were 10^–5–10^–1, 4.0 × 10^–5–10^–1 and 6.3 ×^–5–10^–1 M ephedrine. The detection limits were 4 ×^–6,10^–5 and 1.2 × 10^–5 M ephedrine for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The pH ranges were 4–9, 3–9 and 2–8 for I, II and III-membranes, respectively. Selectivity coefficient values for membrane II were better than those for membranes I and III. The effects of increasing KC1 concentration and temperature changes were explained for the three electrodes. The isothermal temperature coefficients were 0.00145, 0.0007 and 0.00055 V/ °C for electrodes I, II and III. Electrode III was applied for the determination of ephedrine in its pharmeaceutical preparations with an overall relative standard deviation range of 1.3–2.4% and an overall mean recovery value of 98.1%.     

Selective amperometric titration of molybdenum with oxine in presence of DCTA

Summary In presence of DCTA molybdenum is selectively precipitated with oxine. The precipitation may be utilized for a volumetric determination with amperometric end-point detection. The influence of the ions which usually accompany molybdenum was established from the values obtained for the conditional solubility products of their oxinates. The behaviour of Cu(II), Fe(III), W(VI) and Al(III) was studied experimentally. It is shown, that Cu, Fe and W are completely masked by DCTA, Al was masked with NH₄F.Correct results are obtained with Mo concentrations in the initial solution >1×10^–5 and 1sx10^–3 M. The standard deviation of the method amounts to ±0.02 mg, while the relative (%) standard deviation varies within 0.2 to 2.0.

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Selektive amperometrische Titration von Molybdän mit Oxin in Gegenwart von DCTA

Zusammenfassung Molybdän(VI) läßt sich mit Oxin in Anwesenheit von DCTA selektiv fällen. Die Reaktion kann zur volumetrischen Bestimmung verwendet werden, wobei der Äquivalenzpunkt amperometrisch ermittelt wird. Der Einfluß von Metallionen wird auf Grund der berechneten relativen Löslichkeitsprodukte der entsprechenden Oxinate geschätzt. Experimentell wurden die Schlußfolgerungen für das Verhalten von Cu(II), Fe(III), W(VI) und Al(III) geprüft. Die ersten drei werden nicht mitgefällt, während Al durch F^–maskiert werden kann. Der Anwendungsbereich der Methode umfaßt Mo(VI)-Konzentrationen >1·10^–5 und 1·10^–3 M. Die Ionen von Cu, Fe, Al und W, sowie diejenigen, welche leichter lösliche Oxinate bilden, stören nicht. Die Reproduzierbarkeit wird durch eine Standardabweichung von ±0,02 mg bzw. eine relative (%) Standardabweichung von 0,2–2,0 charakterisiert.

     

Amplification-spectrophotometric determination of arsenic

Arsenic in submicroamounts is determined by use of the iron(II) ferrozine complex and measurement of the absorbance of the complex at 562 nm. The arsenic in the sample is converted into 12-arsenomolybdic acid and extracted into a mixture of butyl acetate and ethanol. The extracted complex is decomposed with sodium hydroxide and the Mo(VI) liberated is reduced to Mo(III) with a Jones reductor, then oxidized back to Mo(VI) with Fe(III). The resulting Fe(II) is complexed with ferrozine, and the absorbance measured. The high sensitivity of the method is due to the chemical amplification (factor of 36) that is involved in the procedure. The apparent molar absorptivity for this method is 9.44×10⁵ 1· mole^–1·cm^–1, compared to the theoretical value of 10.04×10⁵. The overall efficiency of the conversion is 94%.     

Adsorption behaviour of some metal complexes with ferron on Zeo-Karb-226: An atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) study

Summary The adsorption behaviour of ten metal complexes Cr(III), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) with ferron on Zeo-Karb-226 in the H⁺ form was investigated at eight different pH-values in order to develop a preconcentration technique for trace amounts of these elements in aqueous solution. The concentrations of the remaining unadsorbed metal ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Under the present experimental conditions, Cr(III) and Pb(II) can be quantitatively determined within the pH range 4–8, while for Cd(II), the optimum pH-range is 7–11. But at pH 11, more than 95% of Cu(II) and Co(II) can be extracted from aqueous solution. The suitability of the technique has been evaluated by analyzing cadmium in simulated water samples. The results indicate that as low as 5 g 1^–1 of CD can be recovered with more than 96% efficiency from 11 of simulated water solution.

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Adsorptionsverhalten einiger Metallkomplexe mit Ferron an Zeokarb-226: eine AAS-Untersuchung

Zusammenfassung Das Adsorptionsverhalten der Komplexe von Cr(III), Cr(VI), Mn(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) und Pb(II) mit Ferron an Zeokarb-226 in der H⁺-Form wurde bei acht verschiedenen pH-Werten untersucht, um eine Anreicherungsmethode für Spuren dieser Elemente zu entwickeln. Die Konzentrationen der verbliebenen nicht adsorbierten Metallionen wurden mit Hilfe der AAS bestimmt. Cr(III) und Pb(II) können im pH-Bereich 4–8 quantitativ erfaßt werden, während der optimale Bereich für Cd(II) bei pH 7–11 liegt. Bei pH 11 werden jedoch mehr als 95% Cu(II) und Co(II) aus der wäßrigen Lösung extrahiert. Der Nutzen des Verfahrens wurde durch Bestimmung von Cd(II) in simulierten Wasserproben erwiesen. Noch 5 g/l Cd können zu mehr als 96% aus 11 Wasserprobe wiedergefunden werden.

     

Application of Voltammetric Method of Total Chromium Determination in the Presence of Cupferron for Selective Determination of Cr(VI) in Water Samples

A voltammetric method of Cr(VI) determination in a flow system based on the combination of selective accumulation of the product of Cr(VI) reduction on hanging mercury drop electrode and a very sensitive method of chromium determination in the presence of cupferron previously described is proposed. The calibration graphs were linear from 3 × 10⁻⁹ to 3 × 10⁻⁸ and from 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 5 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ for accumulation times of 120 and 600 s, respectively. The detection limit for the accumulation time of 600 s was 9 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 5.1% (n = 5) for Cr(VI) concentration 1 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ and the accumulation time of 120 s. The influence of foreign ions commonly present in water samples is presented. The validation of the method was made by studying the recovery of Cr(VI) from spiked natural water samples.