Catalysis-Based Fluorometric Method for Semiquantifying Trace Palladium in Sulfur-Containing Compounds and Ibuprofen

Trace palladium in synthetic materials can be rapidly and inexpensively semiquantified by a catalysis-based fluorometric method that converts resorufin allyl ether to resorufin. However, whether sulfur compounds would interfere with this method has not been systematically studied. Herein, we show that although thiourea in solution interferes with quantification, sulfide, thiol, and thiocarbamate do not. The fluorometric method can also detect palladium bound to sulfur-based scavenger resin and outperform inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for detecting trace palladium in ibuprofen.