A NEW METHOD FOR THE DIRECT DETERMINATION OF Fe(II) AND Fe(III) FROM WATER SAMPLES THROUGH COMPLEXATION WITH N,NI-ETHYLENEBIS (SALICYLIDINEIMINE) (H2EBSAI)

A new, simple, accurate and selective method have been developed for the direct determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in water samples. The method is based on complexation of ferrous ion and ferric ion with N,NI- ethylenebis (salicylideneimine) to produce a reddish brown coloured metal complex and light green coloured metal complex respectively. The reddish brown Fe(II) complex absorbs maximally at 365 nm with molar absorptivity of 4.24 x 104 Lmol-1cm-1 whereas the light green Fe(III) complex absorbs maximally at 390 nm with molar absorptivity of 3.45 x 104 Lmol-1cm-1. Calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.1 – 20.0 µg/mL, the limit of detection was found to be 0.001 µg/mL whereas Sandell sensitivity was 0.011 µg/mL. The liquid-liquid extraction method requires inexpensive reagents and the procedures are simple and as such can be used in the field.