Selective flotation-spectrophotometric determination of trace copper(II) in natural waters, human blood and drug samples using phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone

Copper(ll) forms 1:1 and 1:2 intense red complexes with phenanthraquinone m onophenylthiosemicarbazone (PPT) at pH 3-3.5 and greater than or equal to6. 5, respectively, These complexes exhibit maximal absorbance at 545 and 517 nm, the molar absorptivity being 2.3 x 10(4) and 4.8 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(- 1), respectively. However, the 1 : 1 complex was quantitatively Boated with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant in the pH range 4.5-5.5, providing a highly se lective and sensitive procedure for the spectrophotometric determination of Cu-11, The molar absorptivity of the floated Cu-PPT complex was 1.5x10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1). Beer's law was obeyed over the range 3-400 ppb at 545 nm, The analytical parameters affecting the flotation process and hence the de termination of copper traces were reported. Also, the structure of the isol ated solid complex and the mechanism of flotation were suggested. Moreover, the procedure H as successfully applied to the analysis of Cu-11 in natura l waters, serum blood and some drug samples.