U.V. actinometry using potassium trisoxalato cobaltate

The sensitivity of the actinometer potassium trisoxalato cobaltate has been increased by using 60Co. When the irradiated sample is extracted with liquid anion exchangers in toluene, the Co3+ gets extracted into the organic layer whereas the photolytically produced Co2+ remains in the aqueous layer. The quantum yield is calculated by finding the Co2+ radioactivity in the aqueous layer. The quantum yield is 0.8. This actinometer has the advantage over standard iron(III) oxalate that it can be used in laboratory light. (author)