Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric determination of boron in soils, plants and waters by extraction with 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol in isobutyl methyl ketone

Abstract

Two methods for the determination of boron, by molecular absorption spectrophotometry with curcumin and by molecular fluorescence with dibenzoylmethane, after extraction of boron into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) with 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol, are proposed. The development of the colour or the fluorescence is carried out in the organic phase used for extraction by addition of curcumin in glacial acetic acid or dibenzoylmethane in IBMK and phosphoric acid as dehydrating agent. The different conditions for both spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods have been established. A study has been made of the influence in aqueous solution of several ions as potential interferents. The spectrophotometric method has been applied to the determination of boron in soils and plants and the fluorimetric method to plants and natural waters.