Abstract
Analytical applications of 3-methylthiopheite-2-carbaxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-MTAT) are reported for the first time. The reagent has been synthesized and characterized using IR, NMR and Mass spectral data. 3-MTAT have been used for the spectrophotometric determination of mercury(II). The reagent reacts with mercury(H) in basic medium (pH 8.0, ammonium chloride and ammonium buffer) to form yellow colored 1 : 2 (M : L) complex. The color reaction is instantaneous and absorbance values remain constant for 12 h. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of 3-MTAT method are found to be 1.87 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0107 mu g cm(-2) of mercury(II) respectively. The method is successfully applied to a number of water (potable and polluted), biological and soil samples containing mercury(II). The results of the proposed method in the analysis of samples are comparable with those obtained by dithizone method. The method has high accuracy and precision (s = 0.0042 for 4 mu g/ml in 3-MTAT method).