Kinetic determination of tellurium based on its inhibitory effect on the palladium(II)-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and hypophosphite ion

Abstract

A kinetic method for the determination of Te based on its inhibitory effect on the Pd^II-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and H₂PO₂^– is described. The influence of experimental variables on the rate of the process and the potential interfering effect of a large number of ions has been studied. Under the selected experimental conditions: 6 × 10^–5M pyronine G; 0.6 M H₂PO₂^–; pH 2.6, adjusted with Britton-Robinson buffer; 0.80 µg ml^–1 of Pd^II; and a temperature of 22 ± 0.2 °C, Te was determined in the concentration range 0.08–0.85 µg ml^–1. The method was applied to the determination of Te in waters and lead concentrates.