Cloud point extraction and simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions in water samples by 5-Br-PADAP using partial least squares regression

In this work, a new method has been proposed to simultaneously determine V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution by spectrophotometry after cloud point extraction using partial least squares regression (PLS). The metal ions in 10 ml of aqueous solution (containing 0.2 M sodium acetate buffer solution, pH 3.5) were formed complexes with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP). Then, Triton X-114 (2 %, v/v) was added to the solution. By increasing the temperature of the solution up to 55 °C, a phase separation occurred. After centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 min, the surfactant-rich phase was dissolved and diluted to 0.5 mL with ethanol. The metal ions were then determined using spectrophotometry. At these optimal extraction and operating conditions, linearity was obeyed in the range 7–300, 3–100 and 15–700 ng mL^?1 of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II), with the detection limit of 2.2, 1.0 and 4.5 ng mL^?1, respectively. The relative predictive error for the simultaneous determination of 15 test samples of different concentrations of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) was 3.28, 3.64 and 4.04 %, respectively. The root mean square error of prediction for applying the PLS method to 15 synthetic samples in the linear ranges of these metal ions was 3.4, 1.6 and 18.1 ng mL^?1. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the simultaneous determination of V(V), Co(II) and Cu(II) ions in real matrix samples with the recoveries of 96.75–104.80 %.     

Removal of As(V) by Cu(II)-, Ni(II)-, or Co(II)-doped goethite samples

The present study reports removal of As(V) by adsorption onto laboratory-prepared pure and Cu(II)-, Ni(II)-, and Co(II)-doped goethite samples. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed only goethite as the crystalline phase. Doping of ions in the goethite matrix resulted in shift of d-values. Various parameters chosen for adsorption were nature of adsorbent, percentage of doped cations in goethite matrix, contact time, solution pH, and percentage of adsorbate. It was observed that the pH(pzc) of the goethite surface depended on the nature and concentration of metal ions. The surface area as well as the loading capacity increased with the increase of dopant percentage in goethite matrix. A maximum loading capacity of 19.55 mg/g was observed for 2.7% Cu(II)-doped goethite. The adsorption kinetics for Ni(II), Co(II) and for undoped goethite attained a quasi-equilibrium state after 30 min with almost negligible adsorption beyond this time. In case of Cu(II)-doped goethite samples, the quasi-equilibrium state for As(V) adsorption was observed after 60 min. At each studied pH condition, it was observed that the percentage of adsorption of As(V) decreased in the order Cu(II)-doped goethite > or = Ni(II)-doped goethite > Co(II)-doped goethite > pure goethite. The adsorption followed: Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer formation.     

Simultaneous kinetic spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) using partial least squares (PLS) regression

A partial least squares (PLS-1) calibration model based on kinetic—spectrophotometric measurement, for the simultaneous determination of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) ions is described. The method was based on the difference in the rate of the reaction between Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions with 1-(2-pyridylazo)2-naphthol in a pH 5.8 buffer solution and in micellar media at 25°C. The absorption kinetic profiles of the solutions were monitored by measuring the absorbance at 570 nm at 2 s intervals during the time range of 0–10 min after initiation of the reaction. The experimental calibration matrix for the partial least squares (PLS-1) model was designed with 30 samples. The cross-validation method was used for selecting the number of factors. The results showed that simultaneous determination could be performed in the range 0.1-2 μg mL⁻¹ for each cation. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) ions in water and in synthetic alloy samples.      

Adsorptive accumulation of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II) from water on montmorillonite: influence of acid activation

The present work investigates the influence of acid activation of montmorillonite on adsorption of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) from aqueous medium and comparison of the adsorption capacities with those on parent montmorillonite. The clay-metal interactions were studied under different conditions of pH, concentration of metal ions, amount of clay, interaction time, and temperature. The interactions were dependent on pH and the uptake was controlled by the amount of clay and the initial concentration of the metal ions. The adsorption capacity of acid-activated montmorillonite increases for all the metal ions. The interactions were adsorptive in nature and relatively fast and the rate processes more akin to the second-order kinetics. The adsorption data fitted both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, indicating that strong forces were responsible for the interactions at energetically nonuniform sites. The Langmuir monolayer capacity of the acid-activated montmorillonite is more than that of the parent montmorillonite (Cd(II): 32.7 and 33.2 mg/g; Co(II): 28.6 and 29.7 mg/g; Cu(II): 31.8 and 32.3 mg/g; Pb(II): 33.0 and 34.0 mg/g; and Ni(II): 28.4 and 29.5 mg/g for montmorillonite and acid-activated montmorillonite, respectively). The thermodynamics of the rate processes showed the adsorption of Co(II), Pb(II), and Ni(II) to be exothermic, accompanied by decreases in entropy and Gibbs free energy, while the adsorption of Cd(II) and Cu(II) was endothermic, with an increase in entropy and an appreciable decrease in Gibbs free energy. The results have established the potential use for montmorillonite and its acid-activated form as adsorbents for Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) ions from aqueous media.     

New Application of Chemically Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Thiosemicarbazide as a Sorbent for Separation and Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in Environmental and Biological Samples Prior to Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The present article reports the application of Thiosemicarbazide‐modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐TSC) as a new, easily prepared selective and stable solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution prior to the determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The studied metal ions can be adsorbed quantitatively on MMWNTs at pH 5.0 and then eluted completely with HNO₃ (1.5 mol L^?1) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including the pH, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions were found to be 32.5, 27.3, 44.5 and 34.1 mg g^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), and the detection limits of the method were found to be 0.28, 0.13, 0.21 and 0.17 μg L^?1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of the analytes in well water, sea water, wastewater, soil, and blood samples.     

Salisaldehyde-2-aminobenzimidazole schiff base complexes of Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)

New metal complexes of Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) with salicylidine-2-aminobenzimidazole (SABI) are synthesized and their physicochemical properties are investigated using elemental and thermal analyses, IR, conductometric, solid reflectance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The base reacts with these metal ions to give 1:1 (Metal:SABI) complexes; in cases of Fe(III), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions; and 1:2 (Metal:SABI) complexes; in case of Ni(II) ion. The conductance data reveal that Fe(III) complex is 2:1 electrolyte, Co(II) is 1:2 electrolyte, Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes are 1:1 electrolytes while Ni(II) is non-electrolyte. IR spectra showed that the ligand is coordinated to the metal ions in a terdentate mannar with O, N, N donor sites of the phenloic -OH, azomethine -N and benzimidazole -N3. Magnetic and solid reflectance spectra are used to infer the coordinating capacity of the ligand and the geometrical structure of these complexes. The thermal decomposition of the complexes is studied and indicates that not only the coordinated and/or crystallization water is lost but also that the decomposition of the ligand from the complexes is necessary to interpret the successive mass loss. Different thermodynamic activation parameters are also reported, using Coats-Redfern method. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Separation of cobalt(II) from nickel(II) by solid-phase extraction into Aliquat 336 chloride immobilized in poly(vinyl chloride)

A solid-phase absorbent obtained by the immobilization of Aliquat 336 chloride in poly(vinyl chloride) is reported to extract preferentially Co(II) from its 7 M hydrochloric acid solutions containing Ni(II). Under the experimental conditions there was no extraction of Ni(II) which allowed the complete separation of these two ions. Co(II) was rapidly and quantitatively back-extracted with deionised water. A mechanism for the extraction of Co(II) is proposed based on the formation of the ion-pair A⁺[HCoCl₄]⁻ where A⁺ is the Aliquat 336 cation. Fe(III) and Cd(II), usually present in Co(II) and Ni(II) samples, were also extracted into the solid-phase absorbent though at a slower rate than Co(II) and they did not interfere with the separation of Co(II) from Ni(II). It was also demonstrated that this approach allowed the complete separation of Ni(II) from the other metal ions mentioned above.     

Copper(II) ion-selective microelectrochemical transistor

A device has been developed for the measurement of copper(II) ions (Cu⁺⁺) in aqueous medium. The device reported here is an electrochemical transistor that consists of two platinum electrodes separated by 100-μm spacing and bridged with an anodically grown polycarbazole film. The undoped polycarbazole film is observed to be highly selective for the Cu(II) ions. In a completed device, the conductivity of the polycarbazole film changes on addition of Cu (II)ions. This change in conductivity is attributed to the conformational changes in the polymer phase on occupation of the Cu(II) ions, without affecting electron/proton transfer. The device turns on by adding 2.5×10⁻⁶ M Cu(II) ions and reaches a saturation region above a concentration of 10⁻⁴ M Cu(II) ions. In this concentration range, the plot of I _D vs log[Cu(II)] is linear. The selectivity of the device for other metal ions such as Cu(I), Co(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Zn(II), and Pb(II) is also studied.     

Online Solid-Phase Extraction of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) Using Covalently Attached Bis(salicylaldimine) to Silica Gel for Determination in Food and Water by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

In this study, a novel sorbent material bearing a bis(aldimine) group was designed and successfully synthesized by covalently bonding a 2-[N,N′-bis(salicylaldimine)]aminoethyl amine ligand to the silica gel surface that was characterized by carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique. The sorbent was used for the online solid-phase extraction (SPE) of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) ions for their determination at trace concentration levels by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effective factors for the online SPE such as the pH and the flow rate of the sample solution, and type, volume, and flow rate of eluent were investigated. The concentration levels of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) were measured in certified reference materials including Virginia tobacco leaves (CTA-VTL-2) and water-trace elements (NWTM-15.2) to validate this method. The metal levels in environmental water were determined by this method, and the values were checked by spiking and recovery experiments and independent analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The adsorption capacities of the sorbent were found to be 41.2, 31.6, and 25.6?mg/g for Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II), respectively. This method was also successfully used for the determination of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) concentrations in rice and molasses.     

Ni(II) ion-imprinted solid-phase extraction and preconcentration in aqueous solutions by packed-bed columns

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns packed with materials based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were used to develop selective separation and preconcentration for Ni(II) ion from aqueous solutions. SPE is more rapid, simple and economical method than the traditional liquid-liquid extraction. MIPs were used as column sorbent to increase the grade of selectivity in SPE columns. In this study, we have developed a polymer obtained by imprinting with Ni(II) ion as a ion-imprinted SPE sorbent. For this purpose, NI(II)-methacryloylhistidinedihydrate (MAH/Ni(II)) complex monomer was synthesized and polymerized with cross-linking ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate to obtain [poly(EGDMA-MAH/Ni(II))]. Then, Ni(II) ions were removed from the polymer getting Ni(II) ion-imprinted sorbent. The MIP-SPE preconcentration procedure showed a linear calibration curve within concentration range from 0.3 to 25 ng/ml and the detection limit was 0.3 ng/ml (3 s) for flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Ni(II) ion-imprinted microbeads can be used several times without considerable loss of adsorption capacity. When the adsorption capacity of nickel imprinted microbeads were compared with non-imprinted microbeads, nickel imprinted microbeads have higher adsorption capacity. The K_d (distribution coefficient) values for the Ni(II)-imprinted microbeads show increase in K_d for Ni(II) with respect to both K_d values of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) ions and non-imprinted polymer. During that time K_d decreases for Zn(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) ions and the k′ (relative selectivity coefficient) values which are greater than 1 for imprinted microbeads of Ni(II)/Cu(II), Ni(II)/Zn(II) and Ni(II)/Co(II) are 57.3, 53.9, and 17.3, respectively. Determination of Ni(II) ion in sea water showed that the interfering matrix had been almost removed during preconcentration. The column was good enough for Ni determination in matrixes containing similar ionic radii ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II) and Co(II).     

H-point standard addition method for simultaneous determination of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in micellar media with simultaneous addition of three analytes

H-point standard addition method, HPSAM, with simultaneous addition of three analytes is proposed for the resolution of ternary mixtures. It is a modification of the previously described H-point standard addition method that permits the resolution of three species from a unique calibration set by making the simultaneous addition of the three analytes. The method calculates the analyte concentration from spectral data at two wavelengths where the two species selected as interferents present the same absorbance relationship. These wavelength pairs are easily found, and can be selected to give the most precise results. Diethyldithiocarbomate (DDC) in a cationic micellar solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used for determination of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) at pH 5.50. The results showed that simultaneous determination of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) could be preformed in the range of 0.0–6.0, 0.0–8.0 and 0.0–12.0 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in several synthetic mixtures containing different concentration of Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II).     

Study of binary complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) with sulfamethazine by voltammetry

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques have been used to study the binary complexes of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) with sulfamethazine (SMZ) at a static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) in 0.04 M Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer. SMZ gave three peaks at 0.01, −1.32 and −1.55 V. Cu(II)-SMZ complex was recognized by a cathodic peak at −0.38 V. Ni(II)-SMZ complex was reduced at more positive potential (−0.77 V) than that of the hydrated Ni(II) ions (−1.08 V). Co(II)-SMZ complex is investigated at pH 7 and 8. The Co(II) complex at pH 7 is appeared as a shoulder at −1.19 V, whereas this peak becomes a well-separated form at pH 8. The study indicated that the SMZ serves as a catalyst in the reduction of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions. From electronic spectra data of the complexes, their stoichiometries of 1: 2 (metal-ligand) in aqueous medium are determined. The stability constants of the complexes are in agreement with the Irwing-Williams series (Co < Ni < Cu).     

Synthesis and structural studies of complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) with substituted chalcones

Complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) with 3-(2-pyridyl)-1-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-2-propen-1-one (PHPO), 3-(1-naphthyl)-1-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-2-propen-1-one (NHPO) and 3-(3,4-dimethoxy phenyl)-1-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-2-propen-1-one (DMPHPO) have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, conductivity, thermal, magnetic, infrared, electronic and electron spin resonance data. Based on analytical data the stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1 : 2. The conductivity data show that all these complexes are non-electrolytes. The infrared spectral data indicate that the ligand PHPO acts as uninegative tridentately towards Co(II) and Ni(II) and bidentately with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II). Ligands like NHPO and DMPHPO act as uninegative bidentately with all the metal ions. The electronic spectral data suggest that all the Co(II) complexes and Ni(II) of PHPO complex are octahedral and all the Cu(II) and Ni(II) of NHPO and DMPHPO complex are square-planar. The complex of Zn(II) and Cd(II) are tetrahedral. ESR parameters of Cu(II) complexes have been calculated and relevant conclusions have been drawn with respect to the nature of bonds present in them.     

Azocalix[4]pyrrole Amberlite XAD-2: New polymeric chelating resins for the extraction, preconcentration and sequential separation of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) in natural water samples

Two novel azocalix[4]pyrrole Amberlite XAD-2 polymeric chelating resins were synthesized by covalently linking diazotized Amberlite XAD-2 with calix[4]pyrrole macrocycles. The chelating resins were used for extraction, preconcentration and sequential separation of metal ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) by column chromatography prior to their determination by UV/vis spectrophotometry or flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Various parameters such as effect of pH on absorption, concentration of eluting agents, flow rate, total sorption capacity, exchange kinetics, preconcentration factor, distribution coefficient, breakthrough capacity and resin stability, were optimized for effective separation and preconcentration. The resin showed good ability for the separation of metal ions from binary and ternary mixture on the basis of pH of absorption and concentration of eluting agents. The newly synthesized resins showed good potential for trace enrichment of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) metal ions, especially for Cu(II), as compared to the earlier reported resins. The synthesized resins were recycled at least 8-10 times without much affecting column sorption capacity. The presented method was successfully applied for determination of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) in natural and ground water samples.     

Amberlite XAD-7 impregnated with Xylenol Orange: a chelating collector for preconcentration of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) ions prior to their determination by flame AAS

A new chelating resin, Xylenol Orange coated Amberlite XAD-7, was prepared and used for preconcentration of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Zn(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Zn(II) are 4.5-5.0, 4.5, 4.0-5.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 5.0-7.0, respectively, and their desorptions by 2 mol L(-1) HCl are instantaneous. The sorption capacity of the resin has been found to be 2.0, 2.6, 1.6, 1.6, 2.6 and 1.8 mg g(-1) of resin for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn, respectively. The tolerance limits of electrolytes, NaCl, NaF, NaI, NaNO3, Na2SO4 and of cations, Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the sorption of the six metal ions are reported. The preconcentration factor was between 50 and 200. The t1/2 values for sorption are found to be 5.3, 2.9, 3.2, 3.3, 2.5 and 2.6 min for the six metals, respectively. The recoveries are between 96.0 and 100.0% for the different metals at preconcentration limits between 10 to 40 ng mL(-1). The preconcentration method has been applied to determine the six metal ions in river water samples after destroying the organic matter (if present in very large amount) with concentrated nitric acid (RSD < or = 8%, except for Cd for which it is upto 12.6%) and cobalt content of vitamin tablets with RSD of approximately 3.0%.     

Thermal studies on cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) ternary complexes of N-(2-acetamido) iminodiacetic acid and imidazoles

The thermal decomposition of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes has been studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential TG (DTG). The complexes have been characterized by IR spectroscopy. The results reveal that the decomposition of these complexes is accompanied by the formation of metal acetate as an intermediate fragments. On the basis of the applicability of a non-isothermal kinetic equations, it was demonstrated that the stability of the complexes follows the order Co(II)>Cu(II)>Ni(II). These stably correspond to the strength of chelation between the metal ions and the primary and secondary ligands. A possible mechanism of the thermal decomposition of the complexes is suggested.     

Selective separation of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions by the precipitate flotation technique

Summary The flotation of Hg(II) ions as sulphide or iodide from aqueous solutions has been investigated, using oleic acid as surfactant. Selective separation from Cd ions has been achieved. There was no interference by Bi, Pb, Cu, Cd, Mn, Zn, Co or Ni.     

Chemically modified silica gel with aminothioamidoanthraquinone for solid phase extraction and preconcentration of Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II)

Silica gel chemically bonded with aminothioamidoanthraquinone was synthesized and characterized. The metal sorption properties of modified silica were studied towards Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II). The determination of metal ions was carried out on FAAS. For batch method, the optimum pH ranges for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) extraction were ≥3 but for Ni(II) and Co(II) extraction were ≥4. The contact times to reach the equilibrium were less than 10 min. The adsorption isotherm fitted the Langmuir's model showed the maximum sorption capacities of 0.56, 0.30, 0.15, 0.12 and 0.067 mmol/g for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II), respectively. In the flow system, a column packed modified silica at 20 mg for Pb(II) and Cu(II), 50 mg for Cd(II), 60 mg for Co(II), Ni(II) was studied at a flow rate of 4 and 2.5 mL/min for Ni(II). The sorbed metals were quantitatively eluted by 1% HNO₃. No interference from Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ at 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L was observed. The application of this modified silica gel to preconcentration of pond water, tap water and drinking water gave high accuracy and precision (%R.S.D. ≤ 9). The method detection limits were 22.5, 1.0, 2.9, 0.95, 1.1 μg/L for Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II), respectively.     

Structural and EPR studies on single-crystal and polycrystalline samples of copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with N2S2-based macrocyclic ligands

The properties of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with oxygen- or nitrogen-containing macrocycles have been extensively studied; however, less attention has been paid to the study of complexes containing sulfur atoms in the first coordination sphere. Herein we present the interaction between these two metal ions and two macrocyclic ligands with N2S2 donor sets. Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with the pyridine-containing 14-membered macrocycles 3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene (L) and 7-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene (L1) have been synthesized. The X-ray structural analysis of {[Co(ClO4)(H2O)(L)][Co(H2O)2(L)]}(ClO4)3 shows two different metal sites in octahedral coordination. The EPR spectra of powdered samples of this compound are typical of distorted six-coordinated Co(II) ions in a high-spin (S=3/2) configuration, with the ground state being S=1/2 (g1=5.20, g2=3.20, g3=1.95). The EPR spectrum of [Cu(ClO4)(L)](ClO4) was simulated assuming an axial g tensor (g1=g2=2.043, g3=2.145), while that of [Cu(ClO4)(L1)](ClO4) slightly differs from an axial symmetry (g1=2.025, g2=2.060, g3=2.155). These results are compatible with a Cu(II) ion in square-pyramidal coordination with N2S2 as basal ligands. Single-crystal EPR experiment performed on [Cu(ClO4)(L1)](ClO4) allowed determining the eigenvalues of the molecular g tensor associated with the copper site, as well as the two possible orientations for the tensor. On the basis of symmetry arguments, an assignment in which the eigenvectors are nearly along the Cu(II)-ligand bonds is chosen.     

Spectral and thermal studies of 4-(1H-pyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidin-4-ylazo) benzene-1,3-diol complexes of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II)

4-(1H-Pyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidin-4-ylazo) benzene-1,3-diol was synthesized and characterized by various spectral and analytical techniques. Semiempirical quantum calculations using the AM1 method have been performed in order to evaluate the geometry and electronic structure of the title azodye in the ground state. The complex formation between Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions and the title azodye was studied conductometrically and spectrophotometrically. The spectrophotometric determination of the title metal ions and titration using EDTA are reported. Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of the title azodye have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, IR, UV-Vis and thermal analysis (TGA and DTA).The spectral and magnetic data suggested the octahedral geometry for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes while Cu(II) complexes have square planar geometry. The thermal studies confirmed the chemical formulations of the title complexes. The thermal degradation takes place in two or three steps depending on the type of the metal and the geometry of the complexes. The kinetics of the decomposition was examined by using Coats-Redfern relation. The activation energies and other activation parameters (DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaG) were computed and related to the bonding and stereochemistry of the complexes.