Catalytic kinetic spectrophotometric determination of iron with (dibromo-p-sulfonic acid arsenazo)-potassium bromate-ascorbic acid system

A new method for the determination of traces of iron was developed based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation reaction of dibromo-p-sulfonic acid-arsenazo (DBS-arsenazo, DBS-ASA) by potassium bromate in a 5.0 × 10−3 M sulfuric acid medium. The optimum experimental conditions for the determination of iron using iron(III)-dibromo-p-sulfonic acid-arsenazo, (DBS-ASA)-potassium bromate-ascorbic acid system and its kinetic spectrophotometric properties were studied. The absorbance difference (ΔA) is linearly related with the concentration of iron(III) over the range of 0.20–6.0 ng/mL at the maximum absorption wavelength of 520 nm and described by the equation: ΔA = 0.133c (ng/mL) — 0.0133 with a regression coefficient of 0.9966. The detection limit of the method is 0.17 ng/mL. The method has been successfully used in the determination of traces of iron in potato samples. The obtained results agree with those of atomic absorption spectrometry.