Liquid-liquid extraction methods for the separation and determination of barium are limited. Macrocyclic crown ethers are well known as selective ligands for various ions. 1 Some such complexes can be extracted from aqueous solutions into an organic phase. Although the extraction properties of crown ether complexes have been widely studied, 2-9 their applications to the determination of metal ions are still rather limited. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The application of highly molar absorbance anionic dyes or counter anions with large molar absorptivities could lead to a sensitive method for trace metal determinations.In this paper, we report a simple and sensitive method for the quantitative extraction of the 18C6-Ba-RB ternary complex into dichloromethane, followed by spectrophotometric measurements at 565 nm.
Experimental
Reagents and chemicalsAll of the chemicals used were of the highest purity available, and were used without further purification. Double-distilled deionized water was used throughout.Stock solutions of barium (1000 µg ml -1 ), Rose Bengal (2.0 × 10 -4 M) and 18-crown-6 (4.0 × 10 -3 M) were prepared.
ApparatusThe absorption spectra were recorded on a UV-240 spectrophotometer (Shimadzu). A Model 550S spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer) was used for absorbance measurements.
ProcedureAfter an aliquot of a sample containing 0.83 -47 µg ml -1 of barium was placed in a 10 ml volumetric flask, 4 ml of Rose Bengal solution (2.0 × 10 -4 M) and 4 ml of 18C6 solution (4.0 × 10 -3 M) were added; the solution was then diluted to the mark with distilled water. The solution was transferred into a 50 ml separatory funnel and 8 ml of dichloromethane was added. The solution was shaken vigorously for 1 min. After the phases were allowed to separate, the organic phase was separated, and its absorbance was measured at 565 nm against a reagent blank.
Results and DiscussionSince Ba 2+ ion forms a fairly stable 1:1 complex with 18C6 in aqueous solution, 1 the application of an anionic dyestuff as a counter ion was expected to result in a sensitive and useful method for a trace barium ion determination.In preliminary experiments, it was found that the counter anion plays an important role in the formation of a stable ternary complex; among the dyestuffs examined (Alizarin Yellow R (AYR), Methyl Orange (MO), Rose Bengal (RB)), the best results were obtained with Rose Bengal (the molar absorptivities of extracted complexes were: εRB = 1.69 × 10 5 , εMO = 1.34 × 10 2 , εAYR = 23). Many ternary complexes which are extractable into organic solvents, such as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichloromethane, are reported using Rose Bengal as a counter ion. 18 The formula of the complex was determined by Job's method, and the results show a mole ratio of 1:1:1 for 18C6:Ba:RB.
Effect of variablesThe influence of the pH on the extraction of the 18C6-Ba-RB complex was studied over the pH range 2 -12; the results are shown in Fig. 1. As can be seen, the maximum extraction of the barium complex occurs within the pH range...