2-[2-(5-Bromopyridyl)azo]-5-dimethylaminophenol; a new sensitive reagent for cadmium

Cadmium(II) reacts with 2-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)azo]-5-dimethyl-aminophenol (5-Br-DMPAP) in aqueous solution; the complex can be extracted with organic solvents such as chloroform, 3-methyl-l-butanol and methyl isobutyl ketone at pH 8–10.5 to give a red solution which absorbs at 525–555 nm. The absorbance in organic solvents is stable and the system conforms to Beer's law; the optimal range in 3-methyl-1-butanol for measurement in 1.00-cm cells is 0.01–l p.p.m. cadmium. Moderate amounts of many cations and anions do not interfere, and interfering cations such as zinc, copper, manganese and nickel can be separated by extraction with dithizone. The 5-Br-DMPAP method is one of the most sensitive procedures available for the determination of cadmium; the molar absorptivity in a 3-methyl-1-butanol extract is 1.41·10⁵ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 at 555 nm.