Analytical Sciences

Simultaneous Determination of Trace Iron and aluminum by Catalytic Spectrophotometry Based on a Novel Oxidation Reaction of Xylene Cyanol FF

Longfei CAI* and Chunxiu XU**

*Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
**Department of Chemistry, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou 521041, China

A new, simple, sensitive and selective method for the simultaneous determination of trace iron and aluminum by catalytic spectrophotometry was presented, based on the catalytic effects of iron and aluminum on the discoloring reaction of xylene cyanol FF proceeded by hydrogen peroxide and potassium periodate in weak nitric acid medium. No catalytic effect was obtained in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or potassium periodate only. With the conditional rate constants determined in reaction systems catalyzed by Al or Fe only, the concentrations of Fe and Al in the samples can be calculated. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of trace Fe and Al in tap water, lake water, river water and tea leaves without separation and preconcentration.

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