Multicomponent determination of cobalt, copper, and iron with 1,10-phenanthroline by principal component regression modelling of spectrophotometric data

A spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of Co, Cu, a nd Fe in ternary mixtures by means of 1,10-phenanthroline as a complexing a gent was developed. The influence of chemical variables affecting the analy tical reaction was evaluated. A principal component regression procedure wa s used to assess spectrophotometric data obtained from nineteen calibration solutions. The method was validated by applying it to the analysis of synt hetic mixtures over the concentration ranges 0-407 mu mol Co/L, 0-189 mu mo l Cu/L, and 0-143 mu mol Fe/L. It was also successfully employed for the an alysis of two cobalt magnetic alloys. The relative errors in the determinat ions were less than 7% in most cases.