Simultaneous determination of iron(III) and cobalt(II) withN-phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid and thiocyanate by extraction and spectrophotometry

Abstract

Simple, precise, sensitive, and highly selective methods for the separate determination of iron(III) and cobalt(II) and for the simultaneous determination of both metal ions are described. Iron(III) and cobalt(II) react with thiocyanate in the presence ofN-phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid (PCHA) to form pinkish red and blue coloured complexes, respectively. Both the iron(III) and cobalt(II) complexes having stoichiometric composition of 1∶2∶2 (Fe∶SCN⁻∶PCHA) and 1∶4 (Co∶SCN⁻), respectively, are quantitatively extractable into ethylacetate from 0.5–1.5 M hydrochloric acid solutions. The spectra of iron(III) and cobalt(II) complexes in the visible region exhibit absorption maxima at 495 and 625 nm, respectively. The coloured systems obey Beer's law in the concentration range of 0.2–4.0μg/ml of iron and 2–40μg/ml of cobalt. The effects of foreign ions and of various experimental parameters were studied to establish the optimum conditions for the extraction and determination of iron and cobalt. The methods have been applied successfully to the analysis of blood, vitamin B₁₂, and standard steels for iron and cobalt.