Indirect determination of trace phenol in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

An indirect method for determination of trace phenol in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is described. The phenol is brominated in acidic solution with KBrO(3)-KBr solution at room temperature. The excess of bromine is reacted with KI and the I(2) produced is extracted into cyclohexane and then reduced back to I(-) with ascorbic acid. The I(-) is then complexed with Cd(2+) in sulphuric acid medium and the complex extracted into MIBK. The extract is analysed by flame AAS for Cd (and hence indirectly for phenol). The linear concentration range for determination of phenol is 6 x 10(-7)-0.9 x 10(-5)M in aqueous solution. Several foreign ions and organic substances do not interfere.