Solvent extraction and separation of yttrium with dibenzo-18-crown-6

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2001-06, Vol.24 (1), p.197-203
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Y.K., Menon, S.K., Sudhakar, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Crown ether; Exact sciences and technology; Extraction of yttrium; ICP–AES; Separation from 90Sr; Spectrometric and optical methods
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/S1383-5866(00)00231-8

A method for the spectrophotometric determination of yttrium using dibenzo-18-crown-6 is described. Yttrium forms a colourless complex with dibenzo-18-crown-6, [Y(OH) 3 [L], which is extracted in dichloromethane, λ max 280 nm, molar absorptivity 1.35×10 4 l mol −1 cm −1. The extract is directly inserted in the plasma for ICP–AES measurement of yttrium which enhances the sensitivity to several fold with the detection limit 1 ng ml −1. The over all formation ( β 2 K′) and distribution ( K e) constants calculated are 19.20±0.05 and 8.05±0.05×10 −9, respectively. The colour was developed with xylenol orange having the λ max 555 nm with the molar absorptivity 5.48×10 3 l mol −1 cm −1. The system obeys Beers law in the range 0.81–16.2 μg ml −1 of yttrium. The yttrium is separated and determined in the presence of 90Sr. To check the validity of the proposed method the yttrium was determined in standard rock samples.