Indirect determination of total yttrium and lanthanides by flame atomic absorption measurement of magnesium after extraction of their ternary complexes with purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone) and magnesium into isobutyl methyl ketone

Abstract

The elements La, Y, Pr, Nd, Sm and Ce form with Mg^II and purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone) mixed-metal complexes which can be extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone at pH 7.5. The total content of these metals can be determined by measuring the magnesium absorbance by AAS. The proposed method, which permits the determination of concentrations at ppb levels, was applied to the analysis of synthetic samples with good results.