2-(8-quinolylazo)-4,5-diphenylimidazole — a sensitive extraction spectrophotometric reagent for mercury

Mercury(II) reacts with 2-(8-quinolylazo)-4,5-diphenylimidazole in aqueous solution; the complex can be extracted with chloroform or 1,2-dichloroethane at pH 4.5–9.5 to give a stable reddish-purple solution. The system conforms to Beer's law; the optimal range in chloroform is 0.05–2 ppm mercury (1-cm cells). Of 25 metal ions investigated, only copper and vanadium interfere seriously. The proposed method is exceptionally sensitive; the molar absorptivity in the chloroform extract is 7.3 × 10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1 at 580 nm; the Sandell sensitivity is 0.0027μg Hg cm^?2.