| Abstract: | Methods for the determination of boron require either sophisticated and expensive equipment (e.g. ICP-OES or ICP-MS) or a relatively large sample volume (e.g. spectrophotometric methods). A modified and miniaturized spectrophotometric curcumin method is presented which allows the determination of boron in sample volumes of 50—150 μl with a detection limit of 0.010 mg B l1. The calibration curve is linear up to a concentration of 3 mg B l1. Interferences with other ions are eliminated by extraction of boron with 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol in chloroform. Simultaneously, enrichment of boron in the sample can be performed within the same extraction step. Results show good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 15% at B concentrations between 0.05 and 0.40 mg B l—1. In different types of solutions, recovery of added boron was in the range of 98 to 99%. For several plant materials containing from 18 to 58 μg B (g dw)1, an overall relative standard deviation of 4.5% was established. So far, the method has been successfully applied to determine boron in waters, nutrient solutions, different plant parts (roots, stems and leaves) as well as in phloem sap and apoplastic washing fluid of several plant species. |
