Determination of cobalt, nickel and copper in steel and in radioactive wastes using desferrioxamine 'B'

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cobalt, nickel and copper with desferrioxamine-B (des feral) is described. The sensitivity of the colour reactions of cobalt, nickel and copper is increased by introducing des feral. The pH range for the formation of Co II, Ni II, or Cu II-des feral. Chelates is 4.5-8.5, 5.5-9, and 6.5-9.5, respectively. The molar absorptivities of the chelates are 1.2 x 105, 5.6 x 104 and 4.8 x 104 at 545 nm, 390 nm and 680 nm, respectively. Beer's law is obeyed up to 10 μg/ml of metal ion. The effect of des feral concentration, pH, standing time and interfering ions are discussed. The method was applied to the determination of trace amounts of cobalt, nickel and copper in steel and simulated radioactive wastes. (author). 6 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs