Selective spectrophotometric determination of nickel in hydrogenated greases, steels and solders by solvent extraction with 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid

Abstract

The synthesis, characteristics and analytical applications of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid (4MF2MP) are described. A highly sensitive, selective and rapid spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of trace amounts of nickel by 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid. This compound reacts instantaneously with Ni(II) in alkaline media to produce a yellow complex (1:2) soluble in water (λ_max.= 400 nm, ε= 1.95 × 10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1) that can be extracted quantitatively with isoamyl alcohol (λ_max.= 410 nm, ε= 9.5 × 10³ l mol^–1 cm^–1) and octanol (λ_max.= 415 nm, ε= 1.9 × 10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1). This method has been applied to the determination of nickel in hydrogenated greases, steels and solders. The results are compared with those obtained using dimethyl glyoxime.