Determination of micro-amounts of zirconium in mixed aqueous organic medium by normal and first-derivative spectrophotometry

Normal and first-derivative spectrophotometric methods have been applied to the determination Zr(IV) with Arsenazo-III in mixed aqueous organic medium. Zirconium (IV) has been determined in presence and in absence of U(VI). For the determination of Zr(IV) in presence of U(VI) no prior separation is needed. The suggested method was also applied to the individual and simultaneous determinations of Zr(IV) and U(VI) in different environmental samples and alloys without separation processes. The method has advantages of simplicity, accuracy and versatility over other conventional methods. The molar absorptivities of U(VI) and Zr(IV) complexes with Arsenazo-III increased to 7.24 × 10⁴ and 1.8 × 10⁵ L/mol cm, respectively, in comparison with values of 5.0 × 10⁴ and 1.2 × 10⁵ L/mol cm cited in literature.