Rapid and selective determination of osmium(IV) by UV-visible spectrophotometry using o-methylphenyl thiourea as a chromogenic chelating ligand: sequential separation of osmium(IV), rhodium(III) and platinum(IV)

The objective of this research work was to develop a simple, highly sensitive and precise method for spectrophotometric determination of osmium(IV). O-Methylphenyl thiourea (OMPT) coordinates with osmium(IV) as a 1:1 (osmium(IV)–OMPT) complex in hydrochloric acid media (0.8 mol l⁻¹). The novelty of the investigated method is instant complex formation at room temperature with no need of heating or standing. The complex is stable for more than 8 days. The method is applicable over a wide linearity range (up to 110 µg ml⁻¹). A low reagent concentration is required (2 ml, 0.009 mol l⁻¹ in ethanol). The complex exhibits maximum absorption in the range of wavelength 510–522 nm and 514 nm was selected for further study. The molar absorptivity was 1.864 × 10³ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, Sandell’s sensitivity was 0.102 µg of osmium(IV) cm⁻². Proposed method was successfully applied for separation and determination of osmium(IV) from binary and ternary synthetic mixtures containing associated metal ions. A scheme for mutual separation of osmium(IV), rhodium(III) and platinum(IV) is developed.