Micro-determination and separation of titanium in environmental samples by spectrophotometry using a liquid ion exchanger

Abstract

A sensitive and selective method for the micro-determination of titanium, based on the direct measurement of light absorption by a liquid ion exchanger phase that has absorbed the coloured complex species derived from the sample, has been developed. The sensitivity of the titanium(IV)-benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) complex extracted with a liquid ion exchanger, Aliquat 336, in the presence of thiocyanate is ten times greater than that of the titanium(IV)-BHA complex extracted with hexanol or isoamyl alcohol. The method can be applied to the concentration, determination and separation of titanium(IV) in industrial effluents and environmental samples containing very low levels of the metal.