Fluorimetric determination of cerium with paracetamol.

A simple, sensitive and selective method for determination of cerium(IV), based on the oxidative reaction between cerium(IV) and paracetamol, has been developed. The fluorescent species is an oxidation product of paracetamol and has excitation and emission maxima at 265 and 360 nm, respectively. The fluorescent intensity of the system is linear over the range 2.0 x 10(-7)-8.0 x 10(-6)M Ce(IV). The method has been applied in the determination of Ce(IV) in synthetic mixtures and ores with good accuracy being achieved.