Determination of trace amounts of beryllium using derivative spectrophotometry in non-ionic micellar medium

A rapid and sensitive method for the trace level determination of beryllium based on the formation of a 1:2 complex (lambda(max) 560 nm) with 1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione in an aqueous medium containing Triton X-100 is reported. Beer's law is followed in the range 3.60-360 ng ml(-1) of Be(II). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity are 1.68x10(4) l mol(-1)cm(-1) and 0.54 ng cm(-2), respectively; detection limit is 0.23 ng ml(-1) of Be(II). Analysis of synthetic mixtures of composition similar to that of alloys and spiked samples of distilled water, gave results that are in agreement with their beryllium content.