Abstract

Methods to determine terbium(III) ion in aqueous solution by measuring the enhanced fluorescence intensity of terbium(III)-terephthalic acid(TPA) complex ion have been studied. The optimum analytical conditions for pH, excitation wavelength and concentration of TPA were found to be 6.0, 260nm and $4.0{\times}10^{-4}M$, respectively. The fluorescence intensity of the terbium(III) complex ion was further increased with addition of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). In this case Triton X-100 was used to dissolve TOPO in aqueous solution. When TOPO was used, the optimum analytical conditions for pH, excitation wavelength, and concentrations of TPA, TOPO and Triton X-100 were found to be 4.5, 285nm. $4.0{\times}10^{-4}M$, $5.0{\times}10^{-5}M$, and 0.05%, respectively. Under the optimum experimental conditions, calibration curve for Tb(III) was linear over the range from $4.0{\times}10^{-8}M$ to $4.0{\times}10^{-5}M$ and the detection limit was $4.0{\times}10^{-8}M$. When TOPO was used, the concentration range of linear response, and the detection limit were $4.0{\times}10^{-9}M$ to $2.0{\times}10^{-6}M$, and $4.0{\times}10^{-9}M$, respectively. Effects of interferences from various cations for the determination of terbium(III) ion were also investigated.