Polyacrylic acid-modified alumina for solid-phase extraction and preconcentration of trace iron and chromium from plant samples

A new method is presented for simultaneous preconcentration of trace Fe(III) and Cr(III) by using polyacrylic acid-alumina as a sorbent. The separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including effect of pH, flow rate, elution conditions, sample volume, and interfering ions. At pH 4, the maximum sorption capacities of Fe3+ and Cr3+ were 8.0 and 13.0 mg/g, respectively, by the column method. The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.175-6.0 x 10(3) ng/mL for iron and 0.175-8.0 x 10(3) ng/mL for chromium in the original solution. The RSD values under optimum conditions were +/- 1.73 and +/- 1.28% for 2.0 microg/mL Fe and Cr, respectively. The preconcentration factor was 400 for both of the elements, and detection limits were 0.025 and 0.023 ng/mL for Fe and Cr in the original solutions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of Fe and Cr in plant samples.