Spectrophotometric determination of traces of selenium(IV) in various environmental samples using the flow-injection technique (FIT)

A simple, sensitive, and rapid flow-injection spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of selenium(IV). The method is based on the oxidation reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (MBTH) by selenium(IV) followed by the coupling reaction with chromotropic acid (4.5-dihydroxy naphthalene-2.7-disulphonic acid) in a basic medium (phosphate buffer, pH 10.5) to give a pink derivative with λ_max 530 nm that is stable for more than 7 days at 35°C. The reaction and flow conditions of the full experimental design were optimized. A detection limit (2s) of 0.25 μg/L Se(IV) was obtained at a sampling rate of 10 samples per hour. Beer’s law is obeyed for a Se(IV) concentration range of 0.05–0.5 μg/mL at the wavelength of maximum absorption. The detailed study of various interference ions indicates that the method is highly selective. The method was successfully applied to the determination of traces of selenium(IV) in various water samples. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the reported methods at the 95% confidence level. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Test determination of titanium(IV) and germanium(IV) in waste and natural waters in the presence of each other

It was demonstrated that trihydroxyfluorones immobilized on cellulose matrices can be used as the reagents for the rapid determination of titanium(IV) and germanium(IV). A high retention of trihydroxyfluorones on cellulose paper (78–98%) and strong chemically stable mixed fabric (74–97%) makes it possible to use these materials for the immobilization of the reagents. Mixed fabric (viscose with cotton) with immobilized phenylfluorone was used for the test determination of 0.05–5 mg/L titanium(IV) and 0.01–5 mg/L germanium( IV) by the color intensity of the reaction zone of the indicator matrix after passing 20 mL of the analyzed solution through it. A test procedure was developed for the determination of 1–200 mg/L titanium(IV) and 0.5–1000 mg/L germanium(IV) by the length of the colored zones of the test strips sealed in a polymer film. The time of the analysis is 10–15 min. The relative standard deviation of the results of the determination of germanium( IV) and titanium(IV) is no higher than 30%.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of titanium(IV) using a carbon paste electrode modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

A method is described for the voltammetric determination of titanium(IV) using a carbon paste electrode modified in situ with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The cationic micellar surfactant adsorbs onto the electrode particularly at negative potentials, simultaneously preconcentrating titanium(IV) as the oxalate complex with reduction to titanium(III). Anodic stripping voltammetry exploiting reoxidation can be used for the determination of trace levels of titanium(IV). Linearity between current and concentration exists between 5 and 160 mug l(-1) Ti(IV) (preconcentration time 2 min). The limit of detection (calculated as 3sigma) is 0.1 mug l(-1), with a preconcentration time of 10 min.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of selenium(IV) by its catalytic effect on the reduction of spadns by sulphide in micellar media

A simple kinetic spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of Se(IV). The method is based on the reduction of spadns by sulphide in micellar media. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance of spadns at 515 nm with a fixed-time method. The decrease in the absorbance of spadns is proportional to the concentration of Se(IV) in the range 0.5–100 ng/mL with a fixed time of 2.5–7.0 min from the initiation of the reaction. The limit of detection is 0.3 ng/mL Se(IV). The relative standard deviation for the determination of 0.02 and 0.10 μg/mL Se(IV) was 2.10 and 1.95%, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Se(IV) in water. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Kinetic-spectrophotometric determination of Sb(V) based on its reaction with iodide in the presence of methylene blue

A rapid, simple, and sensitive kinetic method is developed for the determination of trace amounts of Sb(V). The method is based on the reaction of Sb(V) with iodide in acidic media in the presence of methylene blue. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in the absorbance at 664 nm by a fixed-time technique of 60 s. The method allowed the determination of Sb(V) at concentrations between 0.01 and 2.2 μg/mL. The limit of detection was 0.006 μg/mL and the relative standard deviation for ten replicate measurements of 0.5 μg/mL Sb(V) was 1.2%. The method was applied to the determination of Sb(V) in tap water and spring water with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

2-(2-Thiazolylazo)-pcresol (TAC) as a reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of titanium (IV)

The reaction between titanium(IV) and 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-p-cresol-(TAC) in aqueous methanol media at apparent pH 4.0–5.6 results in a intensely coloured complex that is stable for at least 2 h. The combining ratio is 1 1 cation TAC. Beer's law is obeyed up to 5.0 g/ml titanium(IV) at 580 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity at 580 nm is 9.82.10³ l.mole^–1.cm^–1 and the detection limit obtained was 5 ng/ml titanium (IV). A spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of titanium and iron with TAC is proposed.     

Determination of titanium by adsorption-voltammetry with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)-phenol (5-Br-PADAP)

Summary The 1:1 complex between titanium (IV) and 5-Br-PADAP can be used to determine titanium by adsorption voltammetry at a stationary Hg-electrode. The experimental conditions for the determination are described. The detection limit is 3×10^–10 mol/l Ti (0.015 ppb). Calibration curves are linear for solutions containing 4×10^–10 to 5×10^–8 mol/l Ti(IV) and an enrichment time of 3 min. The influence of foreign ions was investigated. The determination can be carried out in the presence of a 5000-fold excess of iron.     

Spectrophotometric determination of thorium in food using 2-(2,5-disulfonic-4-methoxyphenylazo)-7-(2-hydroxyl-5-carboxylphenylazo)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid

A new highly sensitive and selective chromogenic reagent, 2-(2,5-disulfonic-4-methoxyphenylazo)-7-(2-hydroxyl-5-carboxylphenylazo)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid (1), was synthesized and applied to the spectrophotometric determination of trace thorium. In 5 mL of a 6 M perchloric acid medium, which greatly increases the selectivity, thorium reacts with 1 to form a 1: 2 green complex, having a sensitive absorption peak at 670 nm. Under optimal conditions, Beer’s law is obeyed over the range from 0 to 0.8 μg/mL Th(IV) and the apparent molar absorptivity is 2.09 × 10⁵ L/mol cm. It is found that, uranium(VI), Ti(IV), heavy rare earths, and most of other common metal ions do not interfere. The method has been tested on the determination of thorium in food samples with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Reversed phase HPLC determination of titanium(IV) and iron(III) with sodium 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid

A highly sensitive method has been developed for the determination of titanium(IV) and iron(III) by ion-pair reversed phase liquid chromatography using sodium 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid (Tiron) as a precolumn chelating reagent. The metal - Tiron chelates were separated on a C₁₈ (ODS) column; the mobile phase was a 2:8 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile and acetate buffer (0.04 mol/L, pH 6.2) containing 2.0 × 10^?3 mol/L Tiron, 0.04 mol/L tetrabutylammonium bromide, and 0.1 mol/L potassium nitrate. The detection limits for titanium(IV) and iron(III) are 0.5 and 2.0 μg/L, respectively. The method has been applied to the simultaneous determination of titanium(IV) and iron(III) in river water samples and has furnished highly precise results.     

Determinaton of trace amounts of titanium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

In this work a cloud-point extraction has been used for the preconcentration of the trace amounts of titanium after complex formation with morin (2′,3,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The chemical variables affecting the phase separation and the viscosity affecting the detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were optimized. At pH 4.5, preconcentration of 50 mL of sample in the presence of 0.08% Triton X-114 and 1.0 × 10^?4 M morin enabled the detection limit (c _L = 3S _b/m) of 2.9 ng/mL titanium and linear range 0.02–2.0 μg/mL to be achived. The preconcentration factor was 61, and the relative standard deviation was 3.8% for 0.1 μg/mL solution of Ti(IV) by repeated assays (n = 9). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of titanium in well water, spiked water and plant (Haloxylon).     

Catalytic Spectrophotometric Determination of Titanium(IV) Using Methylene Blue‐Ascorbic Acid Redox Reaction

A highly selective and sensitive catalytic method for the determination of trace amounts of titanium(IV) was developed. The method is based on the catalytic effect of titanium(IV) on the methylene blue‐ascorbic acid redox reaction. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the change in absorbance of methylene blue at 665 nm, 5 minutes after the initiation of the reaction. In this study experimental parameters were optimized and the effect of the presence of various cations and some anions on the determination of titanium(IV) was examined. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 3‐25 ng mL^?1 of titanium(IV). The relative standard deviation for the determination of 10 and 20 ng mL^?1 of titanium(IV) were 2.64% and 1.51%, respectively (n = 8). The detection limit calculated from three times of standard deviation of blank 3S_b was 0.6 ng mL^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of titanium(IV) in tap water and ore samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of manganese(VII) using benzyltriphenylphosphoniumchloride as a new reagent and application of artificial neural network to extending the dynamic range of determination

A simple and selective spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of trace amounts of manganese. The method is based on the extraction of manganese as a MnO₂-benzyltriphenylphosphoniumchloride ion pair with chloroform. An artificial neural network (ANN) has been applied to the handling of the spectrophotometric data of this complex in the organic phase to extend the dynamic range of manganese determination (0.020–6.0 μg/mL). A three-layer back-propagation network (50:75:1) was used with root-mean-square error (rmse) 0.001 and momentum (m) 0.8 overall. The application of BP-ANN makes it possible to extend the dynamic range of the determination of manganese from its narrow linear range of 0.020–2.5 μg/mL to the dynamic range 0.020–6.0 μg/mL. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Determination of titanium by adsorption voltammetry with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol

Summary Titanium (IV) forms a complex with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) in weakly acidic solutions. This complex can be used to determine titanium by adsorption voltammetry at a stationary Hg-electrode. The experimental conditions for the determination are described. The current-concentration curve is linear from 0.15–4.8 ng/g. Ti at a deposition time of 3 min, the detection limit lies at 0.1 ng/g. The influence of foreign ions was investigated. The determination can be carried out in the presence of a 1000-fold excess of iron by the standard addition method, albeit with decreased sensitivity.     

Hydrothermal behavior of titanium(IV) sulfate solutions

The effect of temperature (50 and 75°C) on the viscosity and stability of titanium(IV) sulfate solutions is demonstrated. The changes in the speciation of Ti(IV) in these solutions under the same conditions are reported. The structural transformations of the titanium(IV) sulfate complexes include their conversion into hydroxo(oxo) complexes, the association of the latter, and the growth of the association species up to the size of colloidal particles. This behavior is practically independent of the composition of the initial solution. There can be only variations in the rates of the above hydrolysis stages and, accordingly, in the particle size of the resulting solid phase. By regulating the thermal treatment conditions for titanium(IV) solutions, it is possible to synthesize precursors consisting of nanosized particles (5–30 nm) and having a developed surface morphology. This provides means to obtain titanium dioxide with preset properties.     

Ultrathin functional films of titanium(IV) oxide

Chemistry and physics of thin semiconducting layers of various types are subjects of intense research. Especially when nanotechnology methods such as self-assembly are involved, amazing structural and/or functional properties may appear. Also modern physical methods using variously organized plasma arrangements are able to produce uniform structures with distinctive functionality. In this review, based virtually on our own work, discussions on the preparation, structure, morphology, and function of titanium(IV) oxide nanoscopic thin films are presented. It was shown that structurally and functionally similar titanium(IV) oxide films can be prepared via completely different preparation techniques. Function tests were arranged as “primary”, covering the assessment of the light induced charge separation efficiency, and “secondary”, based on photocatalytic surface oxidations.     

Fabrics and papers modified with analytical reagents for the test determination of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV)

It is shown that Malachite Green and Crystal Violet immobilized on viscose fabrics can be used as reagents for the rapid determination of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV). Selenium is determine by the color intensity of ion associates formed by the reagents with the triiodide ion formed upon the reduction of selenium(IV) with potassium iodide and tellurium, by the color intensity of reagent ion associates with telluromolybdic heteropoly acid. The analytical ranges for selenium and tellurium(IV) were 0.005–0.5 and 0.01–0.1 mg/L upon passing 20 and 100 mL of a test solution through the indicator matrix, respectively. The duration of analysis does not exceed 15–20 min. The relative standard deviation is 50%. Test strips were proposed for determining 0.1–100 mg/L selenium(IV) and 1–1000 mg/L tellurium(IV) by the length of the colored zone. The determination of selenium(IV) is based on the oxidation of 4-nitrophenylgydrazine to its diazonium salt and salt interaction with naphthylamine chemically immobilized on paper with the formation of a red azo compound. The determination of tellurium(IV) is based on its reaction with Bismuthol II immobilized on a paper.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nickel in biological samples using 1-azobenzene-3-(3-hydroxyl-2-pyridyl)-triazene

A new sensitive and selective chromogenic reagent, 1-azobenzene-3-(3-hydroxyl-2-pyridyl)-triazene (ABHPT), was synthesized. It has been found that ABHPT reacts with nickel(II) in a borax buffer solution (pH 10.0) to form 2: 1 red complexes with the maximum absorption at 530 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity of the complex is 2.6 × 10⁵ L/(mol cm). Most metal ions can be tolerated in considerable amounts, whereby only zinc and mercury may interfere with the determination of nickel(II). Nevertheless, this can be easily eliminated by prior separation with sulfhydryl dextran gel. A new method for the spectrophotometric determination of trace nickel(II) was developed. Beer’s law is obeyed for 0–15 μg of nickel(II) in 25 mL of solution. The limit of quantification, limit of detection, and relative standard deviation are 0.74 ng/mL, 0.25 ng/mL, and 1.0%, respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of trace nickel(II) in biological samples with satisfactory results. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Estimation of platinum in environmental water samples with solid phase extraction technique using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A solid phase extraction technique for the determination of platinum(IV) at trace levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectromA solid phase extraction technique for the determination of platinum(IV) at trace levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed. The method was based on retention of platinum in a sample on silica gel modified with aminepropyl groups. The retention of platinum(IV) from the sample solution and the recovery of platinum with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ thiourea solution were quantitative. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was calculated as 5% (n = 7) at the 10 ng L⁻¹ level. The enrichment factor was found to be (50-fold) for 250 mL of water sample. Under optimum conditions, the method detection limit (MDL) was found to be 1 ng L⁻¹ for platinum in water matrices. Recoveries of Pt from spike addition to atmospheric water samples were quantitative (80–95%). The present method was used for the determination of platinum in precipitation, throughfall and runoff water samples.      

Optimization of the reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV) in a microwave oven

 Parameters for the reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV) in HCl medium by heating in a microwave oven have been optimized. The reduction resulted to be quantitative applying 100% power, corresponding to 600 W heating for 2 min in 6 mol/L or for 3 min in 4 mol/L HCl. The behavior of selenomethionine and selenocystine under the optimized reduction conditions was studied in order to evaluate a possible interference of these selenium species in the determination of Se(VI). The final determination of Se(IV), and Se(VI) were done by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical merits of the method are reported. The method was applied to the selective determination of Se(IV), and Se(VI) in spiked river and lake water. Received: 6 December 1996/Revised: 1 April 1997/Accepted: 3 April 1997     

Determination of trace levels of titanium in polyolefin polymers by catalytic reduction using square wave voltammetry

A sensitive and rapid method for the determination of trace levels of titanium in polyolefin polymers using square wave voltammetry is discussed. It involves ashing, acid digestion of polymer samples and determination of titanium(IV) by catalytic reduction using square wave voltammetric (SWV) technique. A well defined peak of titanium(IV) in Britton-Robinson buffer solution containing EDTA and KBrO(3) is observed in the potential range of -0.10 to -0.40 vs. Ag/AgCl. Calibration graphs were linear in the range 0.05-0.25 microg/ml for titanium. Effects of pH and concentration of bromate, EDTA and buffer constituents are studied for the optimization of experimental conditions. Interference from other concomitants present in the polymer matrix are studied. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) obtained by tubular process was used for preparing the synthetic standards in order to optimize the experimental conditions and good recoveries (99-101%) were obtained. The method was extended to different polyolefin samples and the results obtained for the titanium content compared with those obtained by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Statistical evaluation showed no significant bias between the two methods. SWV is found suitable for the estimation of Ti in the range 1-50 microg/g in polyolefin polymers with a RSD < 2.0%.