X-ray fluorescence determination of As, Bi, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn in natural water and soil extracts after preconcentration of their pyrrolidinedithiocarbamates on cellulose filters

A simple method for the elements preconcentration on thin-layer paraffin-treated cellulose filters was proposed. It was found that pyrrolydinedithiocarbamates of As(III), Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe(III), Ni, Pb, Se(IV), V(V) and Zn obtained after mixing of sample (3-5 ml min⁻¹) and reagent (0.7-1.0 ml min⁻¹) streams were quantitatively recovered from 100 ml sample. The sample acidity was adjusted to pH 4.8-5.2 for preconcentration of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe(III), Ni, Pb, V(V) and Zn, and to 2 M HCl for preconcentration of As, Bi and Se. The optimum reagent concentration was found to be 0.1%. The elements were determined on the filters by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The detection limits achieved were 0.1-4.0 μg of element on the filter. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was not higher than 0.08 while determining 5-50 μg of elements on filter. Accuracy and precision of the technique proposed were evaluated by the analysis of spiked natural samples.