Utility of cefixime as a complexing reagent for the determination of Ni(II) in synthetic mixture and water samples

A simple, sensitive, and accurate UV spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of nickel in synthetic mixture and water samples. The method is based on the complexation reaction of nickel ion with cefixime, thus leading to the formation of Ni–cefixime complex in ethanol-distilled water medium at room temperature. The complex showed the maximum absorption wavelength at 332 nm. Beer’s law is obeyed in the working concentration range of 0.447–4.019 μg?mL^?1 with apparent molar absorptivity of 7.314?×?10³?L?mol^?1?cm^?1 and Sandell’s sensitivity of 0.008 μg/cm²/0.001 absorbance unit. The limits of detection and quantitation for the proposed method are 0.016 and 0.054 μg?mL^?1, respectively. The factors such as cefixime concentration and solvent affecting the complexation reaction were carefully studied and optimized. The method is validated as per the International Conference on Harmonisation guideline. The method is successfully applied to the determination of Ni(II) in synthetic mixture and wadi water samples collected from Al Rustaq. The same water samples are also analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both methods determined the amount of Ni(II) in water sample and found to be approximately the same.