Determination of trace amounts of copper with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol by solid phase spectrophotometry

A determination method for traces of copper by Solid-Phase Spectrophotometry (SPS) has been developed. It is based on the fixation of copper(II) as 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol complex on a styrene-divinylbenzene anion-exchange resin. The resin phase absorbances at 525 and 800 nm are measured directly, and the determination of copper (with a RSD of 1.8%) is possible in the range of 0.3–4.5 μg L−1. The method has been applied to the determination of copper in different samples, i.e. mushrooms, tea, drugs and waters.