Flow-injection determination of sodium and potassium by separationon a silica column and extraction-spectrophotometry with benzo-18-crown-6 and tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester

Abstract

Sodium and potassium ions in waters are determined by flow-injection extraction-spectrophotometry. The ion-association complexes formed between the metal/crown ether cations and the tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester anion (TBPE -) are extracted into chlorobenzene/benzene (1:3) and the absorbance of the organic phase is measured after phase separation with a porous membrane. Sodium and potassium are separated on-line with a column (1 mm i.d.×30 cm) packed with silica gel (100-200 mesh). The manifold comprises four streams, each at 0.8 ml min −1. The sample is injected into a water stream and mixed with a reagent stream containing lithium acetate and benzo-18-crown-6 before entering the silica gel column; after the separation, the stream is mixed with EDTA (trilithium salt) and lithium hydroxide, and then with the extraction solution containing TBPE.H. Extraction proceeds in a 2-m coil; the absorbance of the organic phase is measured at 620 nm. CAlibration graphs are linear inthe ranges 0–×10 −3 M sodium and 0–2×10 −4 M potassium. The sample throughput is 15 h −1. The procedure is applicable to river and tap waters.