Determination of trace europium(III) based on a new fluorescence enhancement system of europium(III) with N,N′-bis-(4-N-aminothiourea-2-amylidene)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone by EDTA or alumin in N,N-dimethylformamide

Abstract

A new bis-Schiff base ligand, N,N′-bis-(4-N-aminothiourea-2-amylidene)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (ARADS), was synthesized. The solutions of its complex with Eu³⁺ in DMF can emit the intrinsic fluorescence of Eu³⁺. The fluorescence intensity of the complex was enhanced 20–30-fold in the presence of EDTA (or alum). The influence of seven kinds of solvents (DMF, CH₃CN, THF, acetone, CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH, and DMSO) on the intensity of fluorescence was studied. The results showed that the Eu³⁺-ARADS-EDTA (or alum) system emits its strongest fluorescence in DMF. Thus, the system can be used to develop a new method for the determination of europium(III). The excitation and emission wavelengths are 395 and 615 nm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensities vary linearly with the concentration of Eu³⁺ in the range 6.0 × 10⁻¹⁰−5.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L, with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/L. The interference from some rare earth metals and other inorganic ions are described. The method is a selective, sensitive, rapid, and simple analytical procedure for the determination of europium(III) in high-purity yttrium oxide and synthetic samples. The mechanism of fluorescence enhancement was also studied.