Extractive-spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum as mixed-ligand complexes with thiocyanate and amidopyridines

A fairly selective and sensitive method is described for the determination of microgram amounts of molybdenum(V) by means of its reaction with thiocyanate and the enolic form of various amidopyridines and extraction into benzene. The molar absorptivity of the complexes is in the range 1.5-1.9 x 10(4) l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at lambda(max) 470 nm. The method is applicable in 1.5-7M hydrochloric acid or 1.2-6(M) sulphuric acid media. Cu(+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(3+), Al(3+), Cr(3+), Ti(4+), Zr(4+), V(V), Nb(5+), Ta(5+), W(VI) and U(VI) do not interfere.