Application of membrane filters for spectrophotometric determination of cationic surfactants in river water and sediment.

Cationic surfactant (CS+) in urban river water and sediment was extracted and determined spectrophotometrically with 2 membrane filters. The CS+ in the water samples, mostly in the form of an ion associate with the coexisting anionic surfactant (AS), was collected on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filter and eluted with methanol. Bromphenol blue (BPB), hydrochloric acid, and water were added to the methanol solution successively, and the mixed solution was filtered through a mixed cellulose ester membrane filter. The CS+-BPB- ion associate, formed by a counter ion exchange, was collected on the filter and dissolved into N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) together with the mixed cellulose ester membrane filter. After addition of 2 drops of triethanolamine, the absorbance of the DMF solution was measured. The CS+ in sediment samples was extracted with methanol by ultrasonic irradiation; the methanol solution was then passed through a PTFE membrane filter and evaporated to dryness. The CS+ was redissolved in a small amount of methanol. For water samples, recoveries and relative standard deviations for 0.30 microM benzyldimethyl-tetradecylammonium ion, a standard material, were > or =93 and < or =5%, with a detection limit of 0.02 microM. Concentrations of CS+ in sediments were much higher than those in water samples, indicating that CS+ is adsorbed on the surface of the sediment.     

Extraction and separation of cationic surfactants from river sediments: application to a spectrophotometric determination of cationic surfactant in an aquatic environment using membrane filters.

The quantitative extraction of cationic surfactant (CS+) in river sediments was studied. Further, the developed method was applied to the spectrophotometric determination of CS+ in urban river sediment samples by solid-phase extraction with membranes. A mixture of methanol and hydrochloric acid was proposed as an eluent. Dried sediment was digested in the eluent under ultrasonic irradiation. After elution, the eluent was evaporated to almost dryness. The residue was dissolved in a small volume of methanol and diluted to a certain volume with water. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 4-5 to separate iron and some other metals as precipitates of hydroxides. The solution was passed through two-piled membranes: first glass-fiber and then polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes. A small volume of methanol was passed through the membranes to elute any CS+ retaining on the membranes. After passing the methanol solution through a cationic exchange resin column, the retained CS+ was eluted with methanol containing a high concentration of sodium chloride. Water, Bromophenol Blue (BPB) and hydrochloric acid were added to the solution. The solution was passed through a mixed cellulose ester membrane filter to retain an ion associate of CS+.BPB-. The retained ion associate was dissolved in a small volume of N,N-dimethylformamide together with the membrane filter, followed by the addition of triethanolamine to make the solution alkaline. The absorbance due to BPB2- was measured at 603 nm against a reagent blank. This method was applied to the determination of CS+ in river water and sediment. A cationic surfactant in sediments at 10(-5) mol kg-1 levels was detected with satisfactory precision. It was found that CS+ was about 500-fold enriched in the sediment from water at the place where domestic wastewater was discharged.     

Slope comparison method (SCM) for the determination of trace amounts of silicate in ultrapurified water

A sensitive analytical method for the determination of trace amounts of silicate in ultrapurified water was developed. The method is based on the formation of an ion associate of molybdosilicate with malachite green (MG) and the collection of the ion associate on a tiny membrane filter (diameter: 5 mm, and effective filtering diameter: 1 mm). The ion associate formed on the membrane filter is dissolved together with the membrane filter in 1 ml of methyl cellosolve (MC) and the absorbance of MC solution is measured at 627 nm by a flow injection-spectrophotometric detection technique. In this method, silicate in the original sample (ultrapurified water) is concentrated as the ion associate into a small volume of MC to get high sensitivity. As sample concentration takes place, the small amounts of silicate contained in the reagents used also become concentrated as the ion associate into MC. The original sample volumes are varied and evaporated to an identical volume. Therefore, the reagent added is fixed to the same volume. The absorbance increase linearly with increase in the original sample volume will be due only to silicate in the original samples (ultrapurified water). The resulting slopes obtained by varying the sample volumes are compared with the slope of the calibration graph, and thus named the slope comparison method (SCM). The SCM facilitates a more sensitive and accurate evaluation of silicate concentration in the samples than either common calibration method (CCM) or standard addition method (SAM) because it compensates for the influence of trace amounts of silicate contained in chemicals, reagent solution and solvent used. The calibration graph was constructed from 0 to 0.25 ng ml⁻¹ of Si and the detection limit was 10 pg ml⁻¹ (ppt) when 30 ml of samples was used. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation from six measurements of the reagent blanks were 0.0012 and 3.5%, respectively.     

Adsorption characteristics of a nanodiamond for oxoacid anions and their application to the selective preconcentration of tungstate in water samples.

A nanodiamond with a mean particle size of 4 nm, which was prepared by the detonation of a nanodiamond, has been characterized and used as a collector for tungstate in water samples. An aqueous solution of nanodiamond was found to be stable over the pH range from 3 to 10. Coagulation of the nanodiamond could be brought about by adding an electrolyte solution. The adsorption characteristics of nanodiamond have been elucidated to be attributable to amino groups on its surface by the elemental-analysis data and the zeta potential measured in weak acid media. The unique adsorption properties of the nanodiamond for oxoacid anions were applied to a selective preconcentration method for tungstate in water samples. An appropriate amount of nanodiamond was added to a sample solution at pH 5 and a calcium chloride solution was added to aggregate nanodiamond. The sample solution was then allowed to stand for 2 h and centrifuged. The nanodiamond was transferred onto a membrane filter, washed with a diluted calcium chloride solution and treated in advance of an ICP-AES measurement by either of the following procedures: (a) redispersion of the nanodiamond into dilute nitric acid with an ultrasonic washer and (b) ashing of the membrane filter and the coagulated nanodiamond at 700 degrees C, followed by a treatment of the ash with hydrochloric and tartaric acids. The average recovery of tungstate from 100-ml artificial river-water was found to be 99% at the 0.25 ppm level with an RSD of 2.2% (n = 3). The concentration factor at present is 10.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Chromium(VI) with Cr(VI)-o-Cl-PF–TDPC Ternary Complex after Preconcentration on an Organic Solvent-soluble Membrane Filter

Abstract

A simple and rapid preconcentration technique, based on collecting trace hexavalent chromium on an organic soluble membrane filter is described. At pH 5.0, chromium(VI), o-chlorophenyl-fluorone (o-Cl-PF) and tetradecylpyridinium chloride (TDPC) form the ternary ion-associate chelate, which can be collected on a 0.2μm nitrocellulose membrane. The filter is dissolved in a small volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) acidified with 0.15 mL 3 mol/L sulfuric acid, and the absorbance of the resulting solution is measured at 545 nm wavelength against the reagent blank. The absorbance is proportional to the content of hexavalent chromium in the range of 0.1–1.8μg, in 5 mL solvent. The sensitivity of the ternary complex reaction is very high with molar absorptivity of 1.2 × 10⁵. A detection limit better than 0.3 μg/L can be achieved. The ions normally present in water do not interfere when mixed masking agents are added. The proposed method has been applied to the analysis of water samples from several sources, the recoveries of the hexavalent chromium added to the samples are quantitative, and results found are satisfactory.     

Determination of Iron (II) in Water by a Spectrophotometric Method After Preconcentration on an Organic Solvent-Soluble Membrane Filter

Abstract

A solvent-soluble membrane filter is proposed for a simple and rapid preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of iron (II), which was collected on a nitrocellulose membrane filter as an ion-associate of the cationic complex of iron (II)-1,10-phenanthroline with an anionic surfactant of dodecyl sulfate. The ion-associate collected was dissolved in 5 ml of 2-methoxyethanol together with the filter. The color intensity due to the ion-associate in the resulting solution was measured at 510 nm against a reagent blank. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 1–15 μg Fe (II) in 5 ml of solvent with excellent reproducibility, and detection limits better than 0.5 μg dm^?3 as Fe (II) can be achieved. The diverse components normally present in water do not interfere when proper masking reagent is added. The proposed method has been applied to the analysis of water samples from several sources such as river water, ground water and tapwater samples, the recoveries of the iron (II) added to the samples are quantitative, and results found are satisfactory.     

Organic solvent-soluble membrane filters for the preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) traces in water with Ferrozine

An organic solvent-soluble membrane filter (MF) is proposed for the simple and rapid reconcentration with subsequent spectrophotometric determination of trace levels of iron (II) in water. Iron (II) is collected on a nitrocellulose membrane filter as ion associate of an anionic complex, which is formed by iron (II) and Ferrozine and a cation-surfactant. The ion-pair compound and the MF can be dissolved in small volumes of 2-ethoxyethanol and the absorbance of the resulting solution is measured at 560 nm against a reagent blank with molar absorptivity of 4.01 × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1. Beer’s law is obeyed over the concentration range 0–10 μg L^–1 of iron (II) in water and the detection limit is 0.03 μg L^–1 with a 50-fold enrichment factor. The proposed method can satisfactorily be applied to the determination of iron (II) in natural water and sea water.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace ionic and non-ionic surfactants based on a collection on a membrane filter as the ion associate of the surfactant with Erythrosine B

The spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace surfactants with Erythrosine B (EB) based on the aqueous reaction and the collection on a membrane filter by filtration was studied. Cationic surfactants (CS⁺), such as a quaternary ammonium ion, and polyoxyethylene non-ionic surfactants (NS) in the presence of potassium ion, containing a long-chain alkyl group associate with EB buffered at pH 5.5. CS⁺ associates with anionic surfactants (AS⁻). For the determination of CS⁺, four methods were employed: the collection of the ion associate of CS⁺ with EB on a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) or PTFE membrane filter, the collection of the ion associate of CS⁺ with AS⁻ on a PTFE membrane filter followed by the ion exchange of AS⁻ with EB, and the first collection of CS⁺ followed by the second collection of EB on a PTFE membrane filter. For the determination of AS⁻, the collection of the ion associate of AS⁻ with CS⁺ on a PTFE membrane filter followed by the ion exchange of AS⁻ with EB was done. For the determination of NS, the ion associate of NS with EB was collected on a MCE membrane filter. The MCE membrane filter with the analyte was dissolved in methyl cellosolve. The analyte on the PTFE membrane filter was eluted with ethanol. The CS⁺ up to 5×10⁻⁷ M can be determined by the absorbance at 542 nm of the methyl cellosolve solution or the absorbance at 535 nm of the ethanol solution. The AS⁻ up to 5×10⁻⁷ M can be determined by the absorbance at 536 nm of the ethanol solution. The NS up to 2.53×10⁻⁶ M can be determined by the absorbance at 537 nm of the methyl cellosolve solution. This is the sensitive method for the determination of 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁷ M order of ionic surfactants and 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁶ M order of NS without toxic organic solvents.     

Ultratrace determination of phosphorus in ultrapurified water by a slope comparison method

The analytical method for the determination of phosphorus in ultrapurified water was developed. Ultrapurified water was evaporated to concentrate phosphorus and the final sample volume for analysis was 10 ml. In 0.55 mol l⁻¹ HCl, orthophosphate forms molybdophosphate, and then the molybdophosphate forms ion associate with Malachite Green (MG), which can be collected on a tiny membrane filter (diameter: 5 mm, and effective filtering diameter: 2 mm). After the ion associate on the membrane filter is dissolved together with the membrane filter in 1 ml of methyl cellosolve (MC), the absorbance of MC solution is measured at 627 nm by a flow injection-spectrophotometric detection technique. When 10 ml of the sample solution was used for the procedures and absorbance measurement, the calibration graph is linear up to about 500 ng l⁻¹ of phosphorus and the detection limit was 8 ng l⁻¹ (S/N=3). For the determination of phosphorus in an ultrapurified water, 10-40 ml of sample solutions were transferred into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) beaker and evaporated to 5 ml or to dryness. To them, 0.003 mol l⁻¹ HCl was added to get 10 ml of final solution, which was used as sample. Phosphate is determined by comparing the slope of the varied sample volume after evaporation/concentration with a slope of the standard calibration graph (a slope comparison method: SCM). The SCM enables to evaluate the concentration of phosphate in ultrapurified waters more sensitively and accurately.     

Supported liquid membrane enrichment using an organophosphorus extractant for analytical trace metal determinations in river waters

Metal ions were preconcentrated from water samples using supported liquid membranes containing 40% w/w di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (DEHPA) dissolved in kerosene as the membrane liquid. The driving force for the mass transport of analytes in this system is the pH gradient across the membrane. The effect of the carrier concentration on the extraction efficiency was studied. The mechanism for the mass transport in the system was investigated by measuring changes in pH and analyte ion concentration as well as changes in the concentration of other interfering metal ions present in large excess during the enrichment. The extraction efficiency was found to be unchanged as long as the pH difference across the membrane was more than 2 pH units. The long-term stability of the system was investigated at different pHs in the donor solution. Under optimal conditions, the membrane was stable for at least 200 h with reagent water samples and at least 80 h for river water samples. Enrichment factors of approximately 15 times could be obtained. The corresponding extraction efficiencies were over 80% for some of the investigated metal ions. The detection limits of blank samples for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ using 120 min processing time were 0.19, 0.024 and 0.09 ng/mL, respectively. Received: 29 October 1996 / Revised: 17 February 1997 / Accepted: 23 February 1997     

Separation and determination of dissolved and particulate humic substances in river water

Distribution of humic and fulvic acids in participate or dissolved form is studied by using simple leaching and sorption techniques. After filtration of water sample (100–200 ml), the filter along with suspended particles is treated with 5 ml of chloroform and 3 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The filter dissolves completely in the organic phase, while the suspended particles remain in the aqueous phase enabling a leaching of humic substances. The leaching is repeated once more with 2 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution. The humic and fulvic acids in the combined solution are fractionated at pH l by filtration, where the membrane filter is preliminarily coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate. On the other hand, dissolved humic substances are concentrated from a 50-ml filtered sample by sorption on a DEAE-cellulose column. They are desorbed with 5 ml of 0.1 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution and fractionated at pH 1. The spectrophotometric analysis of river water reveals that fulvic acid is predominant in suspended particles as well as in filtered samples. The concentration of dissolved humic and fulvic acids is approximately ten times that of suspended particles.     

Resonance Rayleigh scattering for the determination of cationic surfactants with Eosin Y

Resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) of cationic surfactants–Eosin Y systems and their analytical application have been studied. In aqueous solution at pH 2～3, Eosin Y reacts with a monomer of cationic surfactants (CS), such as Zephiramine (Zeph), tetradecylpyridinium bromide (TPB), cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB), to form an ion associate and a new RRS spectrum appears. The spectral characteristics of the five ion associates are similar and their maximum scattering wavelengths (λ_max) are all at 313 nm. The intensity of RRS at λ_max of the ion associate is directly proportional to the concentration of CS in the range of 0～3.0 μg/25 mL. The technique has high sensitivity for the determination of CS; their detection limit is between 5.57 ng/mL and 7.60 ng/mL depending on the CS. In this case, most metal and non-metal ions, NH₄ ⁺ and some anionic surfactants do not interfere, so that the method has a good selectivity. It can be applied to the determination of trace amounts of cationic surfactants in water samples.     

Visual colorimetry for trace antimony(V) by ion-pair solid-phase extraction with bis[2-(5-chloro-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenolato]cobalt(III) on a PTFE type membrane filter.

A new visual colorimetry for trace antimony(V) based on ion-pair solid-phase extraction to a PTFE-type membrane filter with bis[2-(5-chloro-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenolato]cobalt(III) ion ([Co(5-Cl-PADAP)(2)](+)) has been developed. Experiments showed that hexachloroantimonate(V) ion (SbCl(6)(-)) was adsorbed with [Co(5-Cl-PADAP)(2)](+) to the front surface of the PTFE filter. The adsorption of antimony(V) ion was promoted by the addition of lithium chloride as a source of chloride ion. The excess reagent of [Co(5-Cl-PADAP)(2)](+) was eluted by rinsing with a 10 wt% methanol aqueous solution. In this case, the slow rate of the hydrolysis reaction of SbCl(6)(-) and the difference of the hydrophobicity of the ion pairs were important for adsorption and separation with a PTFE-type membrane filter. The antimony(V) concentration was determined through a visual comparison with a standard series. The visual detection limit was 0.10 microg. The calibration curve assessed with the reflection spectrometric responses at 580 nm was linear in the concentration range of 0.10 - 1.2 microg (r = 0.996). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of sub-microgram levels of antimony(V) ion in water samples.     

Organic solvent-soluble membrane filters for the preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) traces in water with Ferrozine

An organic solvent-soluble membrane filter (MF) is proposed for the simple and rapid reconcentration with subsequent spectrophotometric determination of trace levels of iron (II) in water. Iron (II) is collected on a nitrocellulose membrane filter as ion associate of an anionic complex, which is formed by iron (II) and Ferrozine and a cation-surfactant. The ion-pair compound and the MF can be dissolved in small volumes of 2-ethoxyethanol and the absorbance of the resulting solution is measured at 560 nm against a reagent blank with molar absorptivity of 4.01 × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1. Beer’s law is obeyed over the concentration range 0–10 μg L^–1 of iron (II) in water and the detection limit is 0.03 μg L^–1 with a 50-fold enrichment factor. The proposed method can satisfactorily be applied to the determination of iron (II) in natural water and sea water. Received: 23 June 1998 / Revised: 21 July 1998 / Accepted: 25 August 1998     

Interaction between sulfonephthalein dyes and chitosan in aqueous solution and its application to the determination of surfactants.

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of ionic surfactants with Bromophenol Blue (BPB) based on incorporation into a precipitated chitosan was studied. Cationic surfactants (CS+), such as a quaternary ammonium ion containing a long-chain alkyl group, associate with BPB2- buffered at about pH 9 to form the ion associate (CS+)2 x BPB2-. CS+ associates with anionic surfactants (AS-). In the presence of a definite amount of CS+, an increase in the amount of AS- leads to a decrease in the amount of excess CS+, and therefore to a decrease in the amount of the ion associate of CS+ with BPB2-. The addition of a chitosan dissolved in acetic acid to a solution containing these ion associates leads immediately to precipitation of the chitosan and the incorporation of the ion associates (CS+)2 x BPB2- or CS+ x AS- into the precipitated chitosan. After centrifuging, ionic surfactants can be determined by the following two methods: (1) the absorbance of the supernatant solution is measured at 590 nm. (2) After the supernatant solution is separated, the precipitate is dissolved in an acetic acid solution and the absorbance is measured at 625 nm. Because the color of the precipitate is judged by the naked eye, this can be applied to the visual method. This is a simple and rapid method for the determination of a 10(-6) M order of ionic surfactants.     

Solvent sublation and spectrometric determination of iron(II) and total iron using 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenylsulfonic acid)-1,2,4-triazine and tetrabutylammonium bromide.

Solvent sublation has been studied for the separation and determination of trace iron(II) in various kinds of water samples. A strongly magenta-colored anionic [Fe(FZ)3](4-) complex was formed at pH 5.0 upon adding 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-bis(4-phenylsulfonic acid)-1,2,4-triazine (ferrozine, FZ) to the sample solution. Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) was added in the solution to form the (TBA)4[Fe(FZ)3)] ion pair, and an oleic acid (HOL) surfactant was added. Then, the (TBA)4[Fe(FZ)3] ion pairs were floated by vigorous shaking in the flotation cell and extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) on the surface of the aqueous solution. The iron collected in the MIBK layer was measured directly by spectrophotometry and/or flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Different experimental variables that may affect the sublation efficiency were thoroughly investigated. The molar absorptivity of the (TBA)4[Fe(FZ)3] ion pair was 2.8 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) in the aqueous layer. Beer's law held up to 1.0 mg L(-1) Fe(II) in the aqueous as well as in the organic layers. The adopted solvent sublation method was successfully applied for the determination of Fe(II) in natural water samples with a preconcentration factor of 200. The application was extended to determine iron in pharmaceutical samples.     

Charge-transfer triiodide ion-selective electrode based on 7,16-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane.

A new PVC membrane electrode for the triiodide ion based on a charge-transfer complex of iodine with 7,16-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane as a membrane carrier was prepared. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response for triiodide ions over a wide concentration range (1.0 x 10(-1)-1.0 x 10(-5) M) with a slope of 59.3 +/- 0.9 mV decade(-1) and a detection limit of 6.3 x 10(-6) M. It has a response time of 30 s and can be used for at least 3 months without any divergence in the potential. The potentiometric response is independent of the pH, in the pH range 1.6 - 10.0. The proposed electrode has shown very high selectivity for the triiodide ion over a wide variety of other anions. This electrode was successfully applied as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone from pharmaceutical preparations as well as ascorbic acid in orange juice and dissolved O2 in tap water.     

Spectrophotometric method for the determination of ascorbic acid with iron (III)-1,10-phenanthroline after preconcentration on an organic solvent-soluble membrane filter

A solvent-soluble membrane filter is proposed for the simple and rapid preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid based on the reduction of 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen)-iron (III), which is collected on a nitrocellulose membrane filter as an ion-associate of the cationic complex of tri,phen-iron (II) [ferroin, Fe(phen)(2+)(3)] with an anionic surfactant (of dodecyl sulfate). The ion-associate collected is dissolved in a small volume of 2-methoxyethanol together with the filter. The colour intensity is measured at 510 nm against the reagent blank and is proportional to the content of ascorbic acid in the range 2.5-50 microg ascorbic acid in 5 ml of solvent with excellent reproducibility (RSD 3.2% for 200 microg 1(-1) ascorbic acid), the enrichment factor achieves 100-fold and detection limits better than 2.0 microg 1(-1) can be obtained. Diverse components of organic and inorganic compounds normally present in fruits, vegetable, beverages and urine do not interfere. The recoveries of the ascorbic acid added to the samples are quantitative.     

Artificial ion channels showing rectified current behavior.

Voltage-dependent artificial ion channels 3 and 4 were synthesized. Two cholic acid derivatives were connected through a m-xylylene dicarbamate unit at 3-hydroxyl groups. Asymmetries were introduced by terminal hydrophilic groups, carboxylic acid and phosphoric acid for 3 and hydroxyl and carboxylic acid for 4. Under basic conditions, these headgroups in 3 and 4 are expected to be dissociate into -1/-2 (pH 8.2) and 0/-1 (pH 7.2), respectively. Single ion channel properties were examined by a planar bilayer lipid membrane method under symmetrical 500 mM KCl at pH 8.2 or 7.2. When 3 and 4 were introduced into the bilayer membrane under application of positive voltage (a positive-shift method), the current values at positive applied voltage were larger than the corresponding ones at the negative applied voltage. The current-voltage plots were fitted by curves through a zero point to show clear rectification properties. The direction of rectification could be controlled by positive- or negative-shift methods. Vectorial alignment of terminal headgroup charges by the voltage-shift incorporation is essential for giving voltage-dependent rectified ion channels.     

Simple detection of trace Pb2+ by enrichment on cerium phosphate membrane filter coupled with color signaling

A Pb(2+) selective membrane filter was fabricated from the fibrous CeO(H(2)PO(4))(2).2H(2)O (CeP) crystals by blending with cellulose fiber. Enrichment of ppb level of Pb(2+) was achieved simply by filtration of aqueous sample solution through the membrane filter. Pb(2+) was strongly retained on the membrane filter by accommodation into the interlayer gallery of a CeP crystal. Visual detection of the enriched Pb(2+) was achieved by subsequent color signaling as PbS deposit upon treatment of the membrane filter with 3% Na(2)S solution. The analytical procedure and sample treatment conditions were optimized with respect to pH of the sample solution, filtration rate and masking of interfering ions. Detection of 20 ppb of Pb(2+) was not interfered by the presence of 1000-fold of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and up to 100-fold of Fe(3+)and Cu(2+) by masking with 1 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3) of iminodiacetic acid (IDA). Most anions including phosphate (20 000 times) did not interfere with the determination of Pb(2+). The present simple method was applied to the determination of Pb(2+) in real samples like mine valley water.