Simultaneous determination of molybdenum and tungsten by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry

A method for the simultaneous determination of molybdenum and tungsten in mixtures by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry is described. The method is based on the formation of fluorescent complexes with carminic acid at pH 5.1. The constant wavelength difference chosen to optimise the determination was Δλ=λem.-λex.= 50 nm. Molybdenum was measured at λex./λem.= 550/600 nm and tungsten at λex./λem.= 561/611 nm. The range of application is between 1 and 12 µM molybdenum and between 1 and 6 µM tungsten. The accuracy and precision of the method are reported.