The first use of bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine, H2(pnAA2) for the
determination of copper and nickel by flow injection analysis - spectrophoto
metry has been studied.  The proposed methods are simple, rapid and 
accurate and have been applied to the determination of copper and nickel in
copper - based alloys and industrial waste water.  The procedures gave
satisfactory results.
	
Two methods have been developed for the determination of copper.  Firstly,
copper can be determined spectrophotometrically at 355 nm, based on the 
reaction of copper(II) and bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine in aqueous
phase using flow injection system.  The carrier stream was deionized water
and the reagent streams were acetate buffer (pH5) and 0.5% (w/v) bis
(acetylacetone) propylenediimine solution.  The calibration graph was linear 
up to 120 ppm copper,based on injection volume of 500 .  The relative 
standard deviation (n=10) was 4.16% for 20 ppm copper.  The sampling 
rate was 36 h-1. Secondly, copper can be determined spectrometrically at
355 nm after extraction of the Copper(II)bis(acetylacetone)propylene
diiminate chelate into chloroform. The carrier stream was deionized water
and the reagent streams were acetate buffer (pH5) and 0.5% (w/v) bis
(acetylacetone)propylenediimine solution. The calibration graph was linear 
up to 120 ppm copper, based on injection volumes of  250  . The relative 
standard deviation    (n = 10) was 4.52% for 20 ppm copper. The sampling
rate was 18 h-1.  It has been found that the flow injection - extraction 
method gave an improved sensitivity. 
	
The method for the determination of nickel by flow injection analysis - 
spectrophotometry at 360 nm was developed, based on the reaction 
of nickel(II) and bis(acetylacetone)propylenediimine in aqueous phase.  
The carrier stream was deionized water and the reagent streams were 
phosphates buffer (pH7) and 2.0% (w/v) bis(acetylacetone)propylene
diimine solution.  The reaction stream was heated to 60 C and then cooled to
room temperature prior to absorbance measurement. The calibration graph
was linear up to 100 ppm nickel, based on injection volume of 500  . The
relative standard deviation (n = 10) was 4.06% for 20 ppm nickel.  The 
sampling rate was 30 h-1.