Spectrophotometric Methods for Determining Noble Metals

The main trends of the development of spectrophotometric methods for determining noble metals (NMs) are considered. One of these trends is the synthesis and study of new, highly sensitive and selective organic reagents for determining NMs in solutions and in solid phase. Another trend is the search for and development of new methodological approaches (techniques) and color reactions, including those that involve modified and immobilized reagents. The third trend includes the improvement of equipment and automation in FIA, CFA, derivative, rapid-scanning, and multiwavelength spectrophotometry. It also implies a new generation of instruments measuring the absorbance and reflectance of solid materials modified with organic reagents and with their NM complexes; microwave energy sources for the dissolution of samples, preparation of test solutions, and activation of photometric reactions; and multioperational analytical moduli for autoclave sample preparation with resistive heating. The present-day spectrophotometry can provide the determination of NMs in samples with concentrations from several to 10^–4% (photometry and differential photometry) and down to 10^–7% (test and sorption–spectroscopic methods based on photometry and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, including the use of chromaticity functions).