Selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of zirconium in environmental and biological samples using 4-chloro-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-5-sulfamoylbenzamide.

A simple, selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of Zr(IV) in aqueous samples was performed, based on complexation reaction between Zr(IV) and 4-chloro-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-5-sulfamoylbenzamide (xipamide). The important analytical parameters and their effects on the reported system were investigated. Zr(IV) react with xipamide in the ratio 1:1 in the pH range 8 to form a complex with an absorption maximum 333 nm. The apparent stability constant (logβ(n)) and the free energy change (ΔG) of formation of the complex was calculated using the results of mole ratio and continuous variation methods. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 0.2-3.6 μg/mL. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration range was found from 0.3 to 3.5 μg/mL. The molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits were also calculated. Taking a constant concentration of Zr(IV) and determining its concentration in the presence of large number of foreign ions tested the effect of foreign ions. The practical applicability of the elaborated method was examined using for determination of mentioned ion in water samples, biological, plant leaves and soil samples where excellent agreements between reported and obtained results were achieved. The relative standard deviation (n=6) were 0.195%. The precision and accuracy of the results were comparable via F and t test at the 95% confidence level.