Reversed-phase HPLC determination of Co(II), Ni(II) and Fe(III) as their 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-5-dimethylaminophenol chelates

The optimum chromatographic separation conditions for Co(II), Ni(II), and Fe(III) chelates with 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-5-dimethylaminophenol (TAM) were investigated. The compositions of chelates were also determined by the HPLC method and thus the possible structure of chelates was given. A precolumn derivatization method was used, followed by separation on an octyl-bonded silica stationary phase with a methanol-tetrahydrofuran-water (40:9:51, v/v/v) mobile phase containing pH 5.8 acetate buffer and 1 x 10(-4)M TAM. The detection limits of Co(II), Ni(II), and Fe(III) at 560 nm are 0.03, 0.02 and 0.1 ng (S N = 2 ), respectively. They can be determined by means of the proposed method without interference from other common metal ions and have been determined in five standard alloys with satisfactory results.