Direct analysis of Vanadium presents challenges as concentrations are relatively low in environmental samples and usually require separation/pre-concentration before analysis. Speciation methods are mainly liquid chromatography (LC) and electrophoresis (CE) though other methods such as ion chelation exist, but speciation methods are usually guided by choice of analytical method, which are mainly NAA, ETAAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, some UV methods. Spectrophotometry with pyrogallol as a ligand  which forms bluish-violet cmplex with V(III), (IV) & (V) was used successfully, but may not provide good sensitivity for environmental sample. Note that there is a risk of redistribution during speciation due to pH, redox changes as well as prolonged handling.

A review of these methods and others:

Chen & Owens (2008) 'Trends in speciation analysis of vanadium in environmental

samples and biological fluids—A review' Analytica chimica acta 607 (2008) 1–14

Pyrzynska & Wierzbicki (2004) 'Determination of vanadium species in environmental samples' Talanta 64 (2004) 823–829

Jen et al (1997) 'Simultaneous determination of vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) as EDTA complexes by capillary zone electrophoresis' Analytica Chimica Acta, Volume 339, Issue 3, (1997), Pages 251-257

Dear Ernest, thanks a lot for your answer! It's very useful information for me.

Dear Elena Kryshilovich

you analysed Vanadium complexes with ICP-MS, AES and OES.

Best Regards

Dr. Jannesar Malakooti

Dear Elena,

Many articles talk also about HPLC as a technique of speciation of vanadium elements,