A bathocuproine reagent-paper for the rapid semi-quantitative determination of copper in the 1 to 70 p.p.m. range

Abstract

A procedure for the preparation of a reagent-paper for the semi-quantitative determination of copper is described. The reagent-paper contains sodium chloride, hydroquinone for the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) and bathocuproine as a colour indicator. The size of the spot is proportional to the copper concentration in the 10 to 70 p.p.m. range. Beyond this range the calibration curve is slightly bent. The chromatographic processes involved in the procedure and some interferences are discussed.