Quantitative photoacoustic spectrometry : Determination of copper(II) and iron(III) complexed on modified silica gel samples

Calibration curves for copper(II) and iron(III) complexed with N-2-aminoethyl-3-aminoprophyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPS) immobilized on silica gel were prepared separately by photoacoustic spectroscopy (p.a.s.) based on a response function that combines the amplitude and phase values. The concentration of copper and iron in two-component samples are determined by obtaining the response at 600 and 400 nm, respectively, and referring to the calibration graphs. The relative errors in the concentrations determined by p.a.s. compared to atomic absorption spectrometry for copper range from ?9.3 to 3.2%, while for iron the range is ?52.7 to 4.5%. The large error for iron was due to its low concentration and absorptivity. With suitable chromophores and matrix, the response function extends the linear range of the calibration graph and can be used for nondestructive determination of two components.