In this paper the sensitization of micelle colour reactions of germanium with eight 9-substituted-2, 3, 7-trihydroxyfluorones (methyl, phenyl, p-bromophenyl, p-dimethylaminophenyl, m-nitrophenyl, o-nitrophenyl, salicyl and β-hydroxynaphthyl) in the presence of cationic surfactant CTMAB have been investigated. It is found that in strong acid medium all these reagents give colour reactions with germanium ions and CTMAB, the most sensitive ones are salicyl-and o-nitrophenyl-fluorone. On the base of comparing and screening properties of reagents the conditions of determining germanium by means of the ternary complex Ge-o-nitrophenylfluorone-CTMAB have been studied. The molar ratio of the components in the complexes is estimated and the possible reaction mechanism of sensitization of micelle is proposed. A new method has been developed for the rapid determination of micro amounts of germanium in lead-zinc ores without its separation from accompanying elements with satisfactory results.

Key words: CATIONIC SURTACTANTS, XANTHENONE P, REACTION MECHANISM, COLOUR REAGENTS, COLOR REACTION, GERMANIUM, TRIHYDRIC PHENOL