SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS IN SOILS

Abstract

Simple, selective and highly sensitive extraction-photometric methods for determination of Cu, Hg, У Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni are developed using dimercaptophenols (DF) and hydrophobic amines (Am) (2,6-dimercaptophenol(DMP), 2,6-dimercapto-4-methylphenol(DMMP), 2,6-dimercapto-4-ethylphenol(DMEP), 2,6-dimercapto-4-propylphenol(DMPP), and 2,6-dimercapto-4-tertbutylphenol(DMBP)) as complexing reagents. Optimal conditions for formation and extraction of heteroligand compounds (HLC) are specified and the ratios of the components in the complexes are determined. The optimum pH value providing maximum and constant optical density ranges within 3.0-8.1, chloroform (extraction ratio: 98.4-99.6%) being used as an extractant. Optimal concentrations of DP and Am are (0.6 - 0.8) x 10-3and (0.8 - 1.2) x 10-3mol/liter, respectively. HLC are stable and do not decompose for three days in aqueous and organic solvents, and after extraction for more than a month. The maximum analytical signal for M(II) complexing with DP and Am is observed at 464 - 630 nm (εk= 1.82 - 4.40 x 104). The structure of the HLC was studied using thermogravimetry and IR-spectroscopy Comparison of the analytical capabilities of the studied reagents showed that the contrast and sensitivity of the reaction decreases in the series DMBP — DMPP — DMEP — DMMP — DME The interfering impact of ions can be eliminated through changing pH of the medium, masking substances and extraction. The limits of photometric detection and quantitative determination of M (II) in the form of HLC were calculated using calibration graphs. The developed procedures have been successfully used in determination of the trace amounts of Cu, Hg, У Mn, Fe, Co, Ni in different soils: sod-podzolic sandy and sandy-loamy sod-podzolic loamy and clayey, gray forest, black soils, chestnut and river (soil of river floodplains) soils. The determination limits range within 27 - 43 ng/cm3.