Method of detecting potassium ions using trifluoromethyl-substituted chromogenic crown ethers

Claim 2

An organic reagent for extracting potassium from an aqueous solution comprising: (a) a spectroscopic quality chloroform solvent; and (b) the crown ether, 4'-(2",4"-dinitro-6"-trifluoromethylphenyl) aminobenzo-15-crown-5, dissolved in said chloroform solvent, and wherein the concentration of said crown ether in said solvent is in the range 1×10 -4 molar to 1×10 -2 molar.

Claim 3

The reagent of claim 1 wherein the concentration of said crown ether in said solvent is approximately 2×10 -3 molar.

Claim 4

The reagent of claim 1 further including: a base soluble in said chloroform solvent and in a potassium-ion-containg aqueous solution.

Claim 5

The reagent of claim 3 wherein said base is selected from the group consisting of tri-i-butylamine, triethylenediamine, isopropylamine, tripropylamine, triethylamine, dimethylamine, di-n-propylamine, and diethylamine.

Claim 6

The reagent of claim 3 wherein said base comprises triethylamine.

Claim 7

A process for the spectrophotometric determination of the concentration of potassium ions in aqueous solution, said process comprising the following steps: (a) mixing in a common vessel a measured quantity of a potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution with a measured quantity of the organic reagent of claim 3, wherein said organic reagent contains a base in sufficient quantity to achieve a pH in said aqueous solution in the range of 9.5 through 11.0 when said organic reagent is admixed therewith; (b) agitating said vessel to extract potassium ions from said aqueous solution into said organic reagent; (c) transferring a measured quantity of the potassium-ion-containing organic reagent into a spectrophotometric cell; (d) detecting absorbance of said potassium-ion-containing organic reagent with the aid of a spectrophotometer with ultraviolet-visible light having wavelength in the range 300 to 700 nm; (e) recording the absorbance resulting from said detecting step; and (f) comparing said absorbance with a standard calibration curve produced by treating aqueous solutions containing known concentrations of potassium ion in accordance with the procedures of steps a through e.

Claim 8

The process of claim 6 wherein the measured quantity of the organic reagent and the measured quantity of the potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution in said common vessel are substantially equal in volume.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 wherein said potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution contains sodium ions.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 wherein the concentration of said sodium ions in said potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution is less than 3000 parts per million.

Claim 11

A process for the spectrophotometric determination of the concentration of potassium ions in aqueous solution, said process comprising the following steps: (a) adjusting the pH of a potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution with a base to a pH in the range 9.5 through 11.0, said base being substantially free of potassium and rubidium ions, and wherein the amount of sodium ions provided by said base is less than 2000 parts per million; (b) mixing in a common vessel a measured quantity of the basic potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution with a measured quantity of the organic reagent of claim 1; (c) agitating said vessel to extract potassium ions from said aqueous solution into said organic reagent; (d) transfering a measured quantity of the potassium-ion-containing organic reagent into a spectrophotometric cell; (e) detecting absorbance of said potassium-ion-containing organic reagent with the aid of a spectrophotometer with ultraviolet-visible light having wavelength in the range 300 to 700 nm; (f) recording the absorbance resulting from said detecting step; and (g) comparing said absorbance with a standard calibration curve produced by treating aqueous solutions containing known concentrations of potassium ion in accordance with the procedures of steps a through f.

Claim 12

The process of claim 10 wherein, in step (a), the pH of the potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution is adjusted with a base to a pH in the range 9.52 10.22.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein said potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution contains sodium ions.

Claim 14

The process of claim 12 wherein the concentration of said sodium ions in said potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution is less than 3000 parts per million.

Claim 15

The process of claim 12 wherein the measured quantity of the organic reagent solution and the measured quantity of the basic potassium-ion-containing aqueous solution in said common vessel are substantially equal in volume.

Claim 16

The process of claim 10 wherein said base comprises a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of LiOH and CsOH.

Claim 17

The process of claim 15 wherein said base further includes a basic buffer comprising a water soluble salt of a strong base and a weak acid.

Claim 18

The process of claim 15 wherein said basic buffer is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate and borax.