Sequential extraction and determination of copper and nickel with 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone.

2,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone (DAPT) forms a 1:1 complex with copper(II) which can be extracted into n-butanol or ethyl acetate from acetic acid-sodium acetate (pH 5.0) buffer, and a 1:1 nickel(II) complex which can be extracted into n-butanol from ammonium chloride-ammonia (pH 7.5) buffer. The difference between the pH(1 2 ) values for extraction of the two complexes is 3.4 and this has been exploited for their sequential extraction and determination. The molar absorptivities for the copper and nickel complexes are 1.5 x 10(4)l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at 390 nm and 8.2 x 10(3)l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at 385 nm respectively. The procedure has been applied to the analysis of cupronickel.