Determination of metal ions by liquid chromatographic separation of their 2-acetylpyridine-4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone chelates

A new thiosemicarbazone was prepared, characterized, and used as a complexing reagent for the chromatographic separation and determination of metal complexes by reverse-phase HPLC. The reagent was sufficiently soluble in methanol-water solutions for metal ions to be complexed in this aqueous organic phase, without need for extraction. Many variables affected the retention times of the metal complexes. Several metals were determined selectively by complexation with the reagent and chromatographic separation of the complexes. Interference effects from other metal ions were also investigated.