Liquid-liquid extraction of iron(III) and gallium(III) with macrocyclic Schiff bases containing bisphenol A subunits

The quantitative extraction of iron(III) and gallium(III) was investigated with the recently synthesized macrocyclic Schiff base containing bisphenol A subunits. The phenol groups in the Schiff base moiety led to a large increase in the percent extraction of trivalent metal ions. The substitution of methoxy groups for phenolic OH ligands resulted in a marked decrease in the extractability of metal ions, and no iron(III) was extracted. The corresponding acyclic Schiff base was found to have a reasonable reactivity toward metal ions and a better solubility in organic solvents. The iron(III) and gallium(III) complexes with macrocyclic and acyclic Schiff bases were quantitatively extracted into nitrobenzene without the presence of bulky counter anions. A single extraction gave a good separation of iron(III) from iron(II) in the mole ratios 4:1 to 1:3. The red iron(III) complexes can be used for the extraction-spectrophotometric determination of iron(III). The apparent molar absorptivity at 518 nm is 5.43 × 10³lmol⁻¹ cm⁻¹.     

Separation of platinum and palladium from base metals with a weakly basic cellulose ion exchanger

Platinum(IV) and palladium (II) are strongly adsorbed on the weakly basic cellulose ion exchanger DEAE from dilute thiocyanate media, while most other metal ions do not show any marked tendency to adsorb from the same media. It is possible to separate and concentrate the noble metal ions from a large quantity of base metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and lead. As little as 1 mg of platinum(IV) and/or palladium (II) can be quantitatively separated from as much as 20–25 g of base metals on a small column of DEAE (thiocyanate form). The noble metal ions adsorbed are easily stripped from DEAE.     

Synthesis, electrochemistry and metal binding properties of monosubstituted ferrocenoyl peptides with thioether-containing sidechains

Ferrocenoyl peptides incorporating thioether functionality respond more strongly to mercury(II) than to other heavy metal ions in solution. Compounds reported previously in this context are all 1,1′-disubstituted, and all include two or more sulfur-containing amino acids. To test whether two thioether groups are required for effective mercury binding by these systems, we have prepared a series of singly-substituted ferrocenoyl peptides from ferrocenecarboxylic acid and l-methionine, S-methyl-l-cysteine or S-trityl-l-cysteine, and tested them as electrochemical probes for mercury(II). Nine ferrocenoyl peptides have been synthesised using a Boc-protecting group strategy and HBTU-mediated peptide coupling. The electrochemical properties of these compounds have been determined using cyclic voltammetry, and all show fully reversible one electron oxidation steps. Forward sweep half wave peaks (E_F), reverse sweep half wave peaks (E_R), peak separations (ΔE_P) and half wave potentials (E_1/2) are reported. Changes in the potential of the iron(II)/iron(III) redox couple of the ferrocene core have been used to quantify heavy metal-peptide interactions, revealing that these monotopic systems also respond more strongly to mercury(II) than to zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I) and lead(II). NMR experiments to characterise the peptide-mercury interaction implicate the thioether sulfur as the site of mercury binding and indicate 1:1 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of ferrocenoyl-S-methyl-l-cysteine methyl ester is also reported. The greater responsiveness of these systems to mercury(II) makes them interesting leads for the development of biologically inspired sensors for this toxic heavy metal.     

Simultaneous ion-pair chromatography of inorganic anions and cations using on-column derivatization with chelating agents and UV detection

Six complexones have been investigated as on-column derivatizing agents for the simultaneous separation of inorganic anions and cations using ion pair chromatography. UV spectrophotometry at 210 nm has been applied for both the direct and the indirect detection of anions and anionic metal complexes. Under the experimental conditions used DCTA and DTPA have been practically applicable. Factors affecting the chromatographic behaviour of analyte ions have been studied. Chloride, nitrite, nitrate sulphate, chromate, molybdate, iron, chromium (III), copper (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II) and mercury (II) ions have been separated in 30 min with a mobile phase containing 1 mmol/1 TBA and 0.5 mmol/1 DCTA at pH 6.2 in acetonitrile-water (10:90 v/v). With DTPA as eluent and using pre-column derivatization of metal cations with DCTA eight anions and six metal cations can be separated. The detection limits are less than 0.1 mg/l for most of the investigated ions. Permanent address: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Vilnius University, Naugarduko 24, 2006 Vilnius, Lithuania     

An ultrasensitive catalytic method for metal ions and cyanide-containing organic compounds

Ultrasensitive methods are described for the detection and determination of cyanide-containing organic compounds and of various metal ions. The methods are based either on the hydrolysis of the organic compounds to give cyanide ion, which then catalyzes the reduction of o-dinitrobenzene via formation of the cyanohydrin anion of p-nitrobenzaldehyde, or on the inhibition of this catalytic reaction by silver-(I), mercury(II), copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) which form cyanide complexes. By these methods, tetracyanoethylene, p-chlorobenzylidine malononitrile, or benzoyl cyanide (0.1–10 μg/ml) may be determined with a deviation of about 2%, and Ag(i). Hg(II) (0.02–0.2 μg/ml), Cu(II) (0.003–0.030 μg/ml), Co(II) (0.06–0.40 μg/ml) and Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) (1–10 μg/ml) can be determined with a deviation of about 3%.     

Semi-automatic catalytic titration of metal ion mixtures and its application to metallurgical samples

The semi-automatic catalytic titration of several metal ions and binary mixtures of iron(III) with copper(II), nickel or manganese(II) is described. The 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone thiosemicarbazone/hydrogen peroxide system was used in the presence of EDTA or EGTA as inhibitors with copper(II) as catalytic titrant. Two sample aliquots are necessary for the analysis of binary mixtures. In one, both metals are titrated in the presence of EDTA; in the other, only copper, nickel or manganese is titrated with EGTA or EDTA if a masking agent for iron(III) (triethanolamine or fluoride) is added. The iron/metal ratios tolerated range from 1:14 to 13:1 for the 0.2–3.0 μmol range, the relative standard deviation being 1–2%. The method was applied to metallurgical samples with good results.     

2,4-Dioxo-4-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone-3-yl)butyric acid ethyl ester: Reagent for identifying and estimating metal ions in ring oven analysis

Ligand gave variously colored or fluorescent rings when reacted with several kinds of ions on a ring oven (Schleicher and Schuell filter paper 589²). With ions of Al(III), Be(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), and Ni(II) the reactions were sensitive enough to enable application of ring colorimetry or fluorometry (excitation at 366 nm) for quantitation (detection limits, 0.1–2.0 μg of metal). A procedure for estimation of Al(III), Cr(III), and Fe(III) in mixtures was based on reaction with Ligand in combination with EDTA pretreatment, but omitting ion separation. Al(III) could be estimated reliably at its detection-limit-level, in the presence of up to 100 times as much of both Cr(III) and Fe(III).     

Adsorption of heavy metal ions onto dithizone-anchored poly (EGDMA-HEMA) microbeads

The dithizone-anchored poly (EGDMA-HEMA) microbeads were prepared for the removal of heavy metal ions (i.e. cadmium, mercury, chromium and lead) from aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (25-500 ppm) and at different pH values (2.0-8.0). The maximum adsorptions of heavy metal ions onto the dithizone-anchored microbeads from their solutions was 18.3, Cd(II); 43.1, Hg(II); 62.2, Cr(III) and 155.2 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). Competition between heavy metal ions (in the case of adsorption from mixture) yielded adsorption capacities of 9.7, Cd(II); 28.7, Hg(II); 17.6, Cr(III) and 38.3 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). The same affinity order was observed under non-competitive and competitive adsorption, i.e. Cr(III)>Pb(II)>Hg(II)>Cd(II). The adsorption of heavy metal ions increased with increasing pH and reached a plateaue value at around pH 5.0. Heavy metal ion adsorption from artificial wastewater was also studied. The adsorption capacities are 4.3, Cd(II); 13.2, Hg(II); 7.2, Cr(III) and 16.4 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). Desorption of heavy metal ions was achieved using 0.1 M HNO(3). The dithizone-anchored microbeads are suitable for repeated use (for more than five cycles) without noticeable loss of capacity.     

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide: : A selective organic extractant

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide (TOPS) has been investigated as the stationary phase in reversed-phase partition paper Chromatographie separations using nitric or hydrochloric acids as the mobile phase. TOPS has also been studied as an extractant for metal ions. Silver, mercury (II), and palladium (II) were found to have RF values of zero when nitric acid was used as the mobile phase. These same ions were also selectively extracted from aqueous nitric acid solutions. Gold(III), mercury(II), palladium (II), and platinum (IV) were found to have RF values of zero when hydrochloric acid was used as the mobile phase. However, only gold(III) and mercury(II) were extracted from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions in liquid-liquid extraction systems. Several separations were successfully performed from 1 M nitric acid.     

Anion-exchange separations of metal ions in thiocyanate media

The analytical potential of a weak-base macroreticular anion-exchange resin for the quantitative separation of metal ions in thiocyanate media is investigated and demonstrated. Distribution data are given for the sorption of some 25 metal ions from aqueous mixtures of potassium thiocyanate (1.0M or less) and 0.5M hydrochloric acid. The magnitude of the distribution data suggests many possible separations, some of which were quantitatively performed by procedures which are fast, simple and require only mild conditions. Representative separations are removal of traces of iron(III) and copper(II) from water samples prior to the determination of water hardness (calcium and magnesium), separation of nickel(II) from vanadium(IV) and the separation of thorium(IV) from titanium(IV). Some multicomponent separations are the separation of rare earths(III) and thorium(IV) from scandium(III) and the separation of rare earths(III) from iron(III) and uranium(VI).     

Liquid-liquid extraction of metal ions by the 6-membered N-containing macrocycle hexacyclen

The nitrogen-containing analogue of 18-crown-6, 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexa-azaoctadecane (hexacyclen)] was studied as a reagent for complexation and extraction of some metal ions. It was found that with this reagent and methyl isobutyl ketone, metal ions such as silver(I), mercury(II), copper(II), platinum(II) and palladium(II) can be quantitatively extracted and separated from iron(III) and some other metal ions.     

Silica gel modified with N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine: functionalization, metal sorption equilibrium studies and application to metal enrichment prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

The use of the chemically modified silica gel N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine (SiG-NPPDA) adsorbent, for the preconcentration and separation of trace heavy metals, was described. SiG-NPPDA sorbs quantitatively (90-100% recovery) trace amounts of nine heavy metals, viz., Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) at pH 7-8. The sorption capacity varies from 350 to 450 micromol g(-1). Desorption was found to be quantitative with 1-2 M HNO3 or 0.05 M Na2EDTA. The distribution coefficient, Kd and the percentage concentration of the investigated metal ions on the adsorbent at equilibrium, C(M,eqm)% (Recovery, R%), were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficient, log Kd, ranges between 4.0 and 6.4. Some foreign ions caused little interference in the preconcentration and determination of the investigated nine metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The adsorbent and its formed metal chelates were characterized by IR (absorbance and/or reflectance), potentiometric titrations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). The mode of chelation between the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be due to the reaction of the investigated metal ions with the two nitrogen atoms of the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent. The present adsorbent coupled with flame AAS has been used to enrich and determine the nine metal ions in natural aqueous systems and in certified reference materials (RSD < or = 5%). The copper, iron, manganese and zinc present in some pharmaceutical vitamin samples were also preconcentrated on SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and determined by flame AAS (RSD < or = 4.2%). Nanogram concentrations (0.07-0.14 ng ml(-1)) of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be determined reliably with a preconcentration factor of 100.     

Titration curves in complexometric titrations with the redox system Fe(III)/Fe(II)

Potentiometric titrations of metal ions with EDTA have been carried out with a platinum or graphite electrode and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox system. In the absence of oxygen and for pH < 2 the titration curves may be described by an equation similar to that given previously for titrations with silver and mercury electrodes. Titration curves for bismuth and indium, which are more strongly complexed than iron, are asymmetrical and useful for analytical purposes. When the titrated ions are complexed less strongly than iron(III) ions the kinetics of metal complexation have a pronounced effect. The titration curves of thorium and copper, which react more rapidly than iron, are analytically useful. The curves recorded rapidly after titrant additions have a better end-point break than those which correspond to thermodynamic equilibrium. When a metal, e.g., nickel, is weakly bound by EDTA, and reacts more slowly than iron, a very small end-point break or none at all is observed.     

Catalytic activities of polymer‐supported metal complexes in oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene

The metal complexes of N, N′‐bis (o‐hydroxy acetophenone) propylene diamine (HPPn) Schiff base were supported on cross‐linked polystyrene beads. The complexation of iron(III), copper(II), and zinc(II) ions on polymer‐anchored HPPn Schiff base was 83.4, 85.7, and 84.5 wt%, respectively, whereas the complexation of these metal ions on unsupported HPPn Schiff base was 82.3, 84.5, and 83.9 wt%. The iron(III) complexes of HPPn Schiff base were octahedral in geometry, whereas copper(II) and zinc(II) ions complexes were square planar and tetrahedral. Complexation of metal ions increased the thermal stability of HPPn Schiff base. Catalytic activity of metal complexes was tested by studying the oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The polymer‐supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions showed 73.0 wt% conversion of phenol and 90.6 wt% conversion of cyclohexene at a molar ratio of 1:1:1 of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, but unsupported complexes of iron(III) ions showed 63.8 wt% conversion for phenol and 83.2 wt% conversion for cyclohexene. The product selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was 93.1 and 98.3 wt%, respectively with supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions but was lower with HPPn Schiff base complexes of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions. Activation energy for the epoxidation of cyclohexene and phenol conversion with unsupported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions was 16.6 kJ mol^?1 and 21.2 kJ mol^?1, respectively, but was lower with supported complexes of iron(III) ions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Separation of rhenium(vii) from molybdenum(vi) and many other elements by anion exchange

A method is described for the selective separation of μg and mg amounts of rhenium(VII) from molybdenum (VI) and many other metal ions by means of the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1-X8. The separation is based on the preferential elution of molybdenum by a 90% (v/v) methanol-10% 6 M nitric acid mixture; rhenium and a few other elements are retained while molybdenum and most other metal ions including Fe(III), Ca, Mg, Mn, U, Cu, V, etc., are practically unadsorbed. After elution of the adsorbed rhenium with 70% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran-30% 9 M hydrochloric acid, the rhenium is determined spectrophotometrically by a modified thiocyanate method.     

Simultaneous determination of iron(II) and iron(III) in aqueous solution by kinetic spectrophotometry with tiron

A kinetic spectrophotometric method that requires no prior measurement of rate constants is developed for the simultaneous determination of iron(II) and iron(III). The method is based on the aerial oxidation of iron(II) in the presence of tiron and acetate ions. The iron(III) formed is subsequently complexed with tiron and the absorbance/time relation is evaluated. The concentrations of iron(III) and iron(II) are obtained from the absorbance values at the start and at equilibrium, respectively, calculated by non-linear least-squares fitting. A linear calibration graph is obtained up to 12 μg ml^?1 iron(II)/iron(III). The method is applied to iron-rich ground water.     

Spectrophotometric determination of microamounts of mercury(II) and sulfide ions in aqueous solution

Ammonium (2′,3′-dihydroxy pyridyl-4′-azo)benzene-4-arsonate (DHP-4A) provides a simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric microdetermination of mercury(II) in aqueous solution. The magenta colored 1:2 metal to ligand complex formed has a molecular extinction coefficient 6.25 × 10⁴ liters mol^?1 cm^?1 at the maximum absorption of 535 nm in highly alkaline medium. Beer's law is obeyed up to 3.8 ppm and Sandell's sensitivity (for an absorbance of 0.001) is 0.0032 μg of mercury(II)/cm². The mercury(II) complexed with DHP-4A has also been used in microdetermination of sulfide ions using ligand exchange reaction. The optimum concentration range of sulfide ions which can reproducibly be determined is 0.16-5.05 μg/10 ml and sensitivity of sulfide ions determination (for an absorbance 0.001) is 7.3 × 10^?4 μg/cm².     

Voltammetric determination of mercury(II) at a carbon paste electrode in aqueous solutions containing tetraphenylborate ion

The determination of mercury(II) ions can be achieved by monitoring the decrease in the oxidation peak of the tetraphenylborate ion in the presence of this metal ion at a carbon paste electrode. The reaction between mercury(II) and the tetraphenylborate ion results in the formation of diphenylmercury, thus providing the method with good selectivity over other metal ions. Using anodic stripping voltammetry in a neutral electrolyte, a linear dependence of the decrease of peak height was observed on increasing the mercury(II) concentration in the range 1 x 10(-6)-8 x 10(-9)M mercury(II). Zinc(II), cadmium(II), lead(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II), tin(II), potassium(I) and ammonium(I) ions did not interfere at a 1000-fold concentration excess. Iron(III) and chromium(III) did not interfere at a 250-fold and 50-fold concentration excess, respectively. Following masking procedures, copper(II), bismuth(III) and silver(I) did not interfere at a 100-fold concentration excess. The method can be used to determine the concentration of mercury(II) in natural waters contaminated by this metal.     

Molybdenum determination in iron matrices by ICP-AES after separation and preconcentration using polyurethane foam

A procedure is proposed for the separation and determination of molybdenum in iron matrices by a batch process. It is based on the solid-phase extraction of the molybdenum(V) ion as thiocyanate complex on polyurethane (PU) foam. The extraction parameters were optimized. Using 0.20 mol L^–1 hydrochloric acid, a thiocyanate concentration of 0.10 mol L^–1, 100 mg of polyurethane foam and shaking time of 10 min, molybdenum (5–400 μg) can be separated and preconcentrated from large amounts of iron (10 mg). Desorption was carried out instantaneously by conc. nitric acid or acetone. Distribution coefficients, sorption capacity of the PU foam and coefficients of variation were also evaluated. The effect of some ions on the separation procedure was assessed. Iron(III) should be reduced to iron(II). The proposed procedure was used to determine molybdenum in standard iron matrices such as steel and pure iron. The achieved results did not show significant differences with certified values.     

Dual-wavelength spectrophotometric determination of traces of mercury(II) with solubilized dithizone: An approach to simplified analytical procedures for environmental pollutants

A simple spectrophotometric procedure is described for the determination of traces of mercury, with solubilized copper(II) dithizonate. Sample water containing 0.05–0.25 μg of mercury(II) is mixed with an aqueous solution of copper dithizonate containing Triton X-100 at pH 1 (H₂SO₄ ). After 5 min, dual-wavelength photometry is used to measure the difference in absorbances at 507 and 493 nm, which is proportional to the mercury concentration. The advantages are that no reagent blank is necessary and the equipment is simple. Few cations interfere; silver(I) and iron(III) can be masked by chloride and fluoride, respectively.