Adsorption-photometric determination of iron using silica with nitroso-R salt and nitroso-N salt functional groups

Adsorbents based on silica sequentially modified by polyhexamethylene guanidine and nitroso-R salt or nitroso-N salt are proposed for the preconcentration and adsorption-photometric determination of iron. It is shown that these adsorbents quantitatively recovered Fe(III) at pH 3.5–4.0 and Fe(II) at pH 4.5–7.0. In the adsorption of Fe(III) and Fe(II), intensely colored green complexes formed on the adsorbent surface. Based on the absence of signals in EPR spectra, it was concluded that iron in the oxidation state +2 was included into surface complexes with nitroso-R salt or nitroso-N salt. When Fe(III) interacted with nitroso-R salt or nitroso-N salt immobilized on the adsorbent surface, it was reduced to Fe(II). Diffuse reflection spectra of the surface complexes of iron(II) were broad bands with maxima at 720 and 710 nm. Procedures of the adsorption-photometric determination of iron in natural waters and snow samples were developed with the limit of detection of 0.05 μg of iron per 0.2 g of the adsorbent.