The complexation of Co(II) with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) was studied by spectroscopy and voltammetry. In addition, an adsorptive stripping voltammetric method was developed for the determination of ultra trace levels of Co(II) using a hanging mercury drop electrode. The method is based on accumulation of Co(II) on a mercury electrode using PAR as the complexing agent. The effects of instrumental and chemical parameters on the sensitivity of the method were investigated. The detection limit of the method is 0.003 ng/mL. Most foreign species do not interfere with the determination. The high sensitivity and selectivity of this method were demonstrated by determination of cobalt in blood and water samples.
