Spectrophotometric reaction rate method for the determination of molybdenum by its catalytic effect on the oxidation of pyrogallol red with hydrogen peroxide

A kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of molybdenum is based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of pyrogallol red with hydrogen peroxide. The decrease of the absorbance of pyrogallol red in the presence of hydrogen peroxide with time from 0.5 to 4.5 min is proportional to the concentration of Mo(VI) over the range 0.010–0.500 μg/mL. The limit of detection is 0.008 μg Mo/mL. The precision and the effect of the presence of more than forty ions on the molybdenum determination are reported. Probable interferences are completely removed by a cation exchange resin. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of molybdenum in plant materials and steels. Received: 28 April 1997 / Revised: 16 June 1997 / Accepted: 18 June 1997