A flow injection manifold for the rapid and sensitive determination of cobalt(II) is described, based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of Alizarin Red S (1,2-dihydroxy-anthraquinone-3-sulphonic acid) by hydrogen  peroxide in alkaline media. The limit of detection is 10-7M (6 pmol) at a -1 -7 sample throughput of 60 h with a c.v. of 1.9% for 10 M cobalt and 0.3% for 10-5M cobalt.


A NABI ,P J WORSFOLD ,