Simultaneous determination of Dy, Eu, Sm and Tb by laser induced-time resolved derivative fluorescence

Summary In this paper, a highly sensitive laser fluorimetric system coupled with microcomputer is described and the laser induced fluorescence of ternary complexes formed by RE (RE = Dy, Eu, Sm, and Tb) with TFA (Trifluoroacetylacetone) and TOPO (Trioctylphosphine oxide) is studied. The emission spectra (excited at 310 nm) of the TFA/TOPO complexes of the rare earths show that the strongest emission bands are located at 560 nm for Dy, 614 nm for Eu, 644 nm for Sm, and 544 nm for Tb. Thus, it is preferable to establish the detection at these wavelengths. However, it is difficult to detect one single component with high selectivity in a mixed sample, because the emission bands in the 500–700 nm region overlap. In order to improve the selectivity, time resolved and derivative techniques are introduced. The effects of foreign ions on the determinations of these four elements are investigated. The linear relationships between derivatives and the concentrations of Dy, Eu, Sm, and Tb are 5×10^–8 to 5×10^–6 mol/l, 5×10^–10 to 1×10^–7 mol/l, 1×10^–9 to 2×10^–6 mol/l, and 2×10^–9 to 2×10^–6 mol/l, respectively. The method was used to determine simultaneously the amounts of Dy, Eu, Sm, and Tb in their mixtures and yttrium oxide without pre-separation.