Determination of some polynitroaromatic compounds

Abstract

A new method has been generalized for the quantitative determination of polynitroaromatics via their molecular complexes with diphenylamine. The method seems attractive, even for those compounds that give the same colours with the reagent. True ε values for these classes of reactions at the optimum wavelength of 420 nm are also reported. The colorimetric method described can be applied to those systems where there is a rapid attainment of equilibrium and where conventional spectrophotometric and kinetic methods apparently fail. No satisfactory methods exist for the quantification of nitro-compounds as the colours formed are highly unstable. Moreover, since similar colours are obtained, specificity is also not possible.