Selection of the counter-cation in the solvent extraction of anionic chelates: Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of cobalt with 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid and tetrabutylammonium ion.

The importance of selecting the most suitable counter-cation in the solvent extraction-spectrophotometric determination of an anionic metal chelate containing a sulphonic acid group is demonstrated and discussed. In the case of cobalt and 2-nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid (nitroso-NW acid), the most suitable counter-cation is the tetrabutylammonium ion (Bu(4)N(+)): in this case only the ion-pair of the anionic cobalt chelate is extracted into chloroform and the excess of the nitroso-NW acid remains in the aqueous phase. The absorption maximum of the chelate in chloroform is at 307nm, at which the molar absorptivity is 6.5 x 10(4)l.mole(-1).cm(-1). The absorbance of the reagent blank at 307 nm is less than 0.010. By use of nitroso-NW acid and Bu(4)N(+), trace amounts of cobalt may be determined in nickel salts and in iron and steel samples.