Spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid using copper(II)-neocuproine reagent in beverages and pharmaceuticals

The proposed method for ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) (AA) determination is based on the oxidation of AA to dehydroascorbic acid with a Cu(II)-2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine (Nc)) reagent in ammonium acetate-containing medium at pH 7, where the absorbance of the formed bis(Nc)-copper(I) chelate is measured at 450 nm. This chelate was formed immediately and the apparent molar absorptivity for AA was found to be 1.60 × 10⁴ dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Beer's law was obeyed between 8.0 × 10⁻⁶ and 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ M concentration range. The relative standard deviation for 90 μg AA was 3%. The Cu(II)-Nc reagent is a milder and therefore more selective oxidant than the conventional Fe(III)-1,10-phenanthroline (phen) reagent used for the same assay. This feature makes the proposed method superior for real samples such as fruit juices containing weak reductants such as citrate, oxalate and tartarate that otherwise produce positive errors in the Fe(III)-phen method when equilibrium is achieved. The developed method was applied to a number of commercial fruit juices, pharmaceutical preparations containing Vitamin C, and red wine. The meta-bisulfite content of wine was removed with an anion exchanger at pH 3 prior to analysis, and a difference extractive–spectrophotometric method of AA assay in wine was developed so as to suppress the interferences caused by wine anthocyanins and polyphenols. The findings of the developed method for fruit juices and pharmaceuticals were also statistically compared with those of HPLC so as to establish it as a reliable novel method.     

Spectrophotometric determination of the soil fumigant: dazomet with copper(II)-neocuproine reagent

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the assay of dazomet, a soil fumigant effective for the control of nematodes, germinating weeds and soil fungi, using the copper(II)-neocuproine (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) oxidizing reagent. A highly colored copper(I)-neocuproine chelate formed immediately in ammonium acetate-buffered solution a result of the redox reaction with dazomet, and its concentration measured from the absorbance at 453 nm using a molar absorptivity of (3.35±0.15)×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for dazomet, the LOD for soil being 1-2 ppm. Dazomet in commercial formulations (such as Basamit, BASF) and soil extract could be measured by the developed method which was rapid (color development took 5 min), and cost-effective. The developed method was as precise as the CIPAC HPLC method (at 95% confidence level) using a nucleosil 100-5 C₁₈ column with UV detection. The degradation of dazomet in different types of forestry soil, i.e. sandy, loamy and clay soils to which moisture and Basamit in recommended doses were applied, was followed kinetically using the developed procedure. The proposed method is much simpler than the US-EPA and CIPAC methods of dazomet assay, and is applicable to on-site colorimetry for field use (via retention of the colored copper(I)-neocuproine cation on an acidic cation exchanger) where rapid detection of dazomet residues and breakdown products is required. The method was not interfered with common soil ions and 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), a fumigant used in combination with dazomet.     

Spectrophotometric total protein assay with copper(II)-neocuproine reagent in alkaline medium

Total protein assay was made using copper(II)–neocuproine (Nc) reagent in alkaline medium (with the help of a hydroxide-carbonate-tartarate solution) after 30 min incubation at 40 °C. The absorbance of the reduction product, Cu(I)–Nc complex, was recorded at 450 nm against a reagent blank. The absorptivity of the developed method for bovine serum albumin (BSA) was 0.023 l mg⁻¹ cm⁻¹, greater than that of Lowry assay (0.0098), and much greater than that of Cu(II)–bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay (0.00077). The linear range of the developed method (8–100 mg l⁻¹ BSA) was as wide as that of Lowry, and much wider than that of BCA (200–1000 mg l⁻¹ BSA) assay. The sensitivity of the method was greater than those of Cu-based assays (biuret, Lowry, and BCA) with a LOD of 1 mg l⁻¹ BSA. The within-run and between-run precisions as RSD were 0.73 and 1.01%, respectively. The selectivity of the proposed method for protein was much higher than those of dye-binding and Lowry assays: Most common interferents to other protein assays such as tris, ethanolamine, deoxycholate, CsCl, citrate, and triton X-100 were tolerated at 100-fold concentrations in the analysis of 10 mg l⁻¹ BSA, while the tolerance limits for other interferents, e.g., (NH₄)₂SO₄ and acetylsalicylic acid (50-fold), SDS (25-fold), and glycerol (20-fold) were at acceptable levels. The redox reaction of Cu(II)–Nc as an outer-sphere electron transfer agent with the peptide bond and with four amino acid residues (cystine, cysteine, tryptophan, and tyrosine) was kinetically more favourable than that of Cu(II) alone in the biuret assay. Since the reduction product of Cu(II) with protein, i.e., Cu(I), was coordinatively saturated with Nc in the stable Cu(Nc)₂⁺ chelate, re-oxidation of the formed Cu(I) with Fenton-like reactions was not possible, thereby preventing a loss of chromophore. After conventional protein extraction, precipitation, and redissolution procedures, the protein contents of the minced meat (veal and turkey), sardine, various milk products, and egg white were analyzed with the proposed and Lowry methods, and the results correlated appreciably (r = 0.98). The method was validated by Kjeldahl analyses of the tested samples; the data sets of complex samples assayed by Cu(II)–Nc and Lowry correlated to the findings of Kjeldahl yielded correlation coefficients r = 0.96 and 0.97, respectively, with slopes being close to 1. Interferences of glucose and thiol compounds at relatively low concentrations could be compensated for by selecting a lower alkaline pH (i.e., pH 10) at a cost of slightly reduced sensitivity and adding an identical amount of interferent to the reagent blank, respectively, since the absorbances due to BSA and interferent were additive. Thus a novel spectrophotometric method for total protein assay using a stable reagent and chromophore, which was simple, rapid, sensitive, flexible, and relatively selective, was developed, and applied to a variety of food products.     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) using oximidobenzotetronic acid

Summary Oximidobenzotetronic acid (OBTA) is proposed as a sensitive spectrophotometric reagent for the estimation of 0.5–3.0 ppm of copper(II) at 427 nm in 50% dioxan at p_H 5.3–7.5. For the estimation of 2 ppm Cu(II), 1.3 ppm Ni(II), 1.3 ppm Co(II), 3.2 ppm Fe(II), 10.3 ppm Fe(III), 9.7 ppm Ce(IV), 300 ppm acetate, 160 ppm oxalate, 95 ppm tartrate, 50 ppm citrate, as well as Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II)) Pb(II), Mn(II), As(III) as well as (V), Th(IV), Be(II), Ce(III), La(III), V(V) and Mo(VI), even when present in large quantities, do not interfere. The interference due to 25 ppm Bi(III), 20 ppm Sb(III), 20 ppm Sn(II), 25 ppm Sn(IV) and 30 ppm W(VI) can be removed by the addition of 95 ppm tartrate ions.

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Zusammenfassung Oximidobenzotetronsäure wurde als empfindliches Reagens zur spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von 0,5 bis 3,0 ppm Kupfer(II) bei 427 nm in 50%iger Dioxanlösung bei p_H 5,3 bis 7,5 vorgeschlagen. Die Anwesenheit von 1,3 ppm Ni(II), 1,3 ppm Co(II), 3,2 ppm Fe(II), 10,3 ppm Fe(III), 9,7 ppm Ce(IV), 300 ppm Acetat, 160 ppm Oxalat, 95 ppm Tartrat, 50 ppm Citrat sowie die Anwesenheit auch großer Mengen Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), As(III) bzw. (V), Th(IV), Be(II), Ce(III), La(III), V(V) und Mo(VI) stören die Bestimmung von 2 ppm Cu(II) nicht. Der störende Einfluß von 25 ppm Bi(III), 20 ppm Sb(III), 20 ppm Sn(II), 25 ppm Sn(IV) und 30 ppm W(VI) kann durch Zusatz von 95 ppm Tartrat beseitigt werden.

     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) with 3-thianaphthenoyltrifluoroacetone

Summary Two visible spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of Copper(II) with 3-thianaphthenoyltrifluoroacetone at a pH of 4.0. The effect due to pH, time, solvents, reagent concentration and diverse ions are reported. Beer's law is obeyed in both cases and the molar extinction coefficients at 410 and 430 nm are 9.3·10² and 2.9·10² respectively.

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Zusammenfassung Zwei spektrophotometrische Verfahren zur Bestimmung von Kupfer(II) mit 3-Thianaphthenoyltrifluoraceton bei pH 4,0 wurden beschrieben. Der Einfluß von pH, Zeit, Lösungsmitteln, Reagenskonzentration und von diversen Fremdionen wurde ermittelt. Das Beersche Gesetz ist in beiden Fällen erfüllt. Der molare Extinktionskoeffizient beträgt bei 410 bzw. 430 nm 9,3·10² bzw. 2,9·10².

     

Rapid determination of copper(I,II) ions using reagent indicator paper

A rapid, sensitive, and highly selective test based on the reaction of copper(I) with thio-Michler’s ketone was developed for the detection and semiquantitative determination of 0.001–2 mg/L copper in natural and potable waters using preconcentration in a portable indicator device. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to select reagent concentrations for immobilization on paper and study the conditions and performance characteristics of the procedure.     

Copper(II)-neocuproine as colour reagent for some biologically active thiols: Spectrophotometric determination of cysteine,penicillamine, glutathione,and 6-mercaptopurine

A new direct spectrophotometric method is described for determination of g/ml concentrations of four biologically important thiols: cysteine, penicillamine, glutathione, and 6-mercaptopurine. The method is based on reaction with copper(II)-neocuproine and subsequent measurement of the Cu(I)-neocuproine produced, at 458 nm. The method has been successfully applied to analysis for these thiols, with a relative standard deviation not exceeding 0.6%.     

Spectrophotometric determination of Chromium(VI) using cyclam as a reagent

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive method for spectrophotometric determination of chromium(VI), based on the absorbance of its complex with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) is presented. The complex showed a molar absorbtivity of 1.5?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1?cm^?1 at 379?nm. Under optimum experimental conditions, a pH of 4.5 and 1.960?×?10³?mg?L^?1 cyclam were selected, and all measurements were performed 10?min after mixing. Major cations and anions did not show any interference; Beer's law was applicable in the concentration range 0.2–20?mg?L^?1 with a detection limit of 0.001?mg?L^?1. The standard deviation in the determination is ±0.5?mg?L^?1 for a 15.0?mg?L^?1 solution (n?=?7). The described method provides a simple and reliable means for determination of Cr(VI) in real samples.     

Fluorimetric determination of copper(II) in aqueous solution using lucifer yellow CH as selective metal reagent

Lucifer yellow CH is shown to be a highly selective fluorescent reagent for the determination of Cu(III) in the microg L(-1) concentration range. The fluorophore is statically quenched by Cu(II); the carbohydrazide group was assigned as the complexing part of the dye molecule. A total range of Cu(II) determination from 0.06 mg L(-1) (1 micromol L(-1)) to 6.3 mg L(-2) (100 micromol L(-1)) with a limit of detection of 0.019 mg L(-1) (0.3 micromol L(-1)) was obtained, along with surprisingly high selectivity. There was no interference from alkaline and earth alkaline metal ions. The cross sensitivity to heavy metal ions was evaluated by the separate solution method and by competitive binding experiments. Calibration plots are shown for Cu(II) determination at different pH and the dissociation constant was determined. The application of the reagent was demonstrated by the determination of the Cu(II) content of tap water samples.     

Analytical applications of ternary complexes-II Spectrophotometric determination of copper as rose bengal bisphenanthrolinium copper(II)

A ternary complex system, [(Cu.phen(2))Rose Bengal], is proposed for the determination of traces of copper ion. The reaction is rendered specific for copper amongst 56 cations and most anions by extraction of bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthrolinium) copper(I) from an EDTA medium. Because of the high molar absorptivity, 62,500, solutions containing 0.002 ppm of copper may be analysed without difficulty. The colour system is stable for a period of days.