Design and optimization of sensitive analytical spectrophotometric method for micro determination of copper(II) from e-waste by using of novel chromogenic extractant.

Abstract In this article, a novel spectrophotometric reagent 1-(pyrimidine)-4, 4, 6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-2-thiol [PTPT] has been synthesized for liquid–liquid extraction and spectrophotometric determination of copper(II). The as-synthesized ligand has been selectively forms stable complex with copper(II) in basic medium (pH 9.0), in presence of mild pyridine the extraction and color stability has found to be synergistically enhanced. The equilibrium time is 10 min for effective extraction of copper(II) from organic phase and absorbance of colored organic complex in carbon tetrachloride is measured spectrophotometrically at λmax 615 nm against reagent blank. The ternary complex of Cu(II)-PTPT-Py having molar ratio 1:2:2 (M:L:Py) showed green colored complex. The main factors influencing the achievement of synergistic extraction; i.e. pH, ligand concentration, type and volume of the dispersive organic solvents, equilibrium time, synergent concentration and foreign ions were investigated. The Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range 1–20 μg mL−1 of copper(II) and optimum concentration range is evaluated by Ringbom’s plot and it is found that 2.5–25 μg mL−1. In presence of pyridine, molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity of copper(II)-PTPT complex is 2.80 × 103 L mol−1 cm−1 and 0.226 μg cm−2, respectively and in absence of pyridine, molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity of copper(II)-PTPT complex is 1.35 × 103 L mol−1 cm−1 and 0.469 μg cm−2, respectively. The stoichiometry of the copper(II)-PTPT-pyridine complex was calculated by slope ratio method, mole ratio method and Job’s method of continuous variation and it has been found as 1:2:2. No significant effects of potentially interfering species i.e. cations and anions were observed. The optimized method was applied for the determination of copper(II) in binary, synthetic mixtures and successfully applied for determination of copper(II) from e-waste samples. The standard deviation (R.S.D.) is 0.11% for n = 5 repetition. The reliability of the developed method is confirmed by comparison of experimental results with atomic absorption spectrophotometer.