Separation of gallium and indium from ores matrix by sorption on Amberlite XAD-2 coated with PAN

A chelating sorbent obtained by adsorption of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) on Amberlite XAD-2 was used for the preconcentration of Ga and In. The analytical characteristics of the chelating sorbent were investigated and optimun sorption conditions for these metals under dynamic conditions were established. A peristaltic pump is used to adjust the flow rate of the solution. Elements are collected from the column by using a mixture adjusted to a pH range of 4-7 and 6-12 by ammonia or ammonium chloride for Ga and In, respectively. The procedure developed was applied to the analysis of different ores.     

Separation of gallium and indium from ores matrix by sorption on Amberlite XAD-2 coated with PAN

A chelating sorbent obtained by adsorption of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) on Amberlite XAD-2 was used for the preconcentration of Ga and In. The analytical characteristics of the chelating sorbent were investigated and optimun sorption conditions for these metals under dynamic conditions were established. A peristaltic pump is used to adjust the flow rate of the solution. Elements are collected from the column by using a mixture adjusted to a pH range of 4–7 and 6–12 by ammonia or ammonium chloride for Ga and In, respectively. The procedure developed was applied to the analysis of different ores. Received: 10 July 2000 / Revised: 21 September 2000 / Accepted: 23 September 2000     

Pre-concentration of trace metals from sea-water for determination by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

Determination of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co, Cr and Ni in coastal sea-water by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by solvent extraction and use of a chelating ion-exchange resin is described. Following the extraction of the pyrrolidine-N-carbodithioate and oxinate complexes into methyl isobutyl ketone, the trace metals are further preconcentrated by back-extraction into 1.5M nitric acid. Preconcentration on the chelating resin is effected by a combined column and batch technique, allowing greater preconcentration factors to be obtained. Provided samples are appropriately treated to release non-labile metal species prior to preconcentration, both methods yield comparable analytical results with respect to the mean concentrations determined as well as to mean relative standard deviations. Control and treatment of the analytical blank is also described.     

Selective extraction of Th(IV) over U(VI) and other co-existing ions using eosin B-impregnated Amberlite IRA-410 resin beads

A new chelating polymeric sorbent as an extractant impregnated resin (EIR) has been developed using eosin B and Amberlite IRA-410 resin. The impregnation process was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. The eosin B-impregnated resin showed superior binding affinity for Th(IV) over U(VI) and many co-existing ions. The influence of various physicochemical parameters on the recovery of Th(IV) were optimized by both static and dynamic methods. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm gave a satisfactory fit of the equilibrium data. The kinetic studies performed for Th(IV) sorption revealed that <20 min was sufficient for reaching equilibrium metal ion sorption. A preconcentration factor of 100 was found for the column-mode extraction. The accuracy of the developed method in conjunction with Arsenazo III procedure was tested by analyzing geological reference materials and seawater sample, which are prepared, synthetically. Furthermore, the above procedure has been successfully employed for the analysis of natural water samples.     

Preparation and analytical characterization of a chelating resin coated with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

A chelating sorbent was obtained by deposition of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol on Amberlite XAD-4. The analytical characteristics of the sorbent were established and optimum sorption conditions for Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni, and Pb under static and dynamic conditions were determined. The sorbent was applied to analysis of river water. After group separation of traces of metals on the sorbent and subsequent elution with hydrochloric add, the metals were determined in the effluent by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.     

Calcon-modified silica gel sorbent. Application to preconcentration or elimination of trace metals

Silica gel impregnated with a mixture of Aliquat 336 and Calcon was used as chelating sorbent for preconcentration of metals from dilute aqueous solutions and their separation as well as for additional purification of analytical grade sodium and potassium salts from other metals. The relative capacities of sorbent towards 33 metal ions were determined in the pH range 1-9 as well as the concentrations of hydrochloric and perchloric acid eluting the retained metals. It was found that Calcon was not eluted from sorbent with 5M perchloric and 10M hydrochloric acids. The rate of sorption for Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Al, Cr(III) and Fe(III) was also studied and it was found that relatively high flow-rates (up to 5 ml/min) can be used for solutions passed through the column. The sorbent was used for preconcentration of traces of some metals from aqueous solutions before their determination by AAS, for separation of metal ion mixtures by column extraction chromatography and for additional purification of potassium chloride solutions used as supporting electrolyte in determination of some heavy metals by anodic stripping voltammetry.     

Synthesis and analytical characterization of a chelating resin loaded with dithizone

A chelating sorbent loaded with dithizone was obtained by chemical reaction with styrene-DVB (5%) copolymer as matrix. The analytical characteristics of the sorbent were established and optimum sorption conditions for Ag, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co and Zn under static and dynamic conditions determined. The sorbent was applied to determination of copper and lead in river water and of silver in electrolytic copper. After separation of traces of metals on the sorbent and desorption with hydrochloric acid, the metals were determined in the effluent by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.     

On-line collection/concentration and determination of transition and rare-earth metals in water samples using Multi-Auto-Pret system coupled with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

On-line preconcentration and determination of transition and rare-earth metals in water samples was performed using a Multi-Auto-Pret system coupled with inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The Multi-Auto-Pret AES system proposed here consists of three Auto-Pret systems with mini-columns that can be used for the preconcentration of trace metals sequentially or simultaneously, and can reduce analysis time to one-third and running cost of argon gas and labor. A newly synthesized chelating resin, ethylenediamine-N,N,N′-triacetate-type chitosan (EDTriA-type chitosan), was employed in the Multi-Auto-Pret system for the collection of trace metals prior to their measurement by ICP-AES. The proposed resin showed very good adsorption ability for transition and rare-earth metal ions without any interference from alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions in an acidic media. For the best result, pH 5 was adopted for the collection of metal ions. Only 5 mL of samples could be used for the determination of transition metals, while 20 mL of samples was necessary for the determination of rare-earth metals. Metal ions adsorbed on the resin were eluted using 1.5 M nitric acid, and were measured by ICP-AES. The proposed method was evaluated by the analysis of SLRS-4 river water reference materials for trace metals. Good agreement with certified and reference values was obtained for most of the metals examined; it indicates that the proposed method using the newly synthesized resin could be favorably used for the determination of transition and rare-earth metals in water samples by ICP-AES.     

Synthesis and efficiency of a spherical macroporous epoxy-polyamide chelating resin for preconcentrating and separating trace noble metal ions

The determination of noble metals in various materials usually requires their preconcentration and separation from other elements. In spite of the improvements in analytical instrumentation and the development of new analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, which are capable of detecting metal ions at ppt levels, the interference caused by the sample matrix still exists and is perhaps the most serious problem, making a pre-determination enrichment step necessary. Thus, the search for efficient preconcentration and separation methods is essential. A series of chelating resins that can selectively adsorb noble metal ions from aqueous solutions have been described. Functional groups, such as salicylaldoxime and thiosemicarbazide have been incorporated in cross-linked polymers or porous silica gel. These resins have very high selectivity for one or several types of noble metal ion. However, desorption of noble metals from these resins is usually difficult. Hence, the development of an adsorbent from which noble metals can be easily desorbed is needed. In this paper, a new spherical macroporous epoxy-polyamide chelating resin that met this requirement was synthesized by one step reaction. The synthesis of the resin was safe, rapid and more simple and economical than many report adsorbents. Meanwhile, the resin showed more advantages: better acid and alkali resistance; higher adsorption capacity and lower preconcentration concentrations. A resin column procedure combined with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for the determination of trace Rh(III), Ru(III) and Ir(IV) in real samples was established.     

Synthesis, characterization and application of a novel sorbent, glucamine-modified MCM-41, for the removal/preconcentration of boron from waters

A novel sorbent was prepared by the functionalization of an inorganic support material, MCM-41, with N-methylglucamine for the uptake of boron from aqueous solutions prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Characterization of the newly synthesized material was performed using BET, XRD, TEM, SEM and DRIFTS techniques, in addition to its C and N elemental content. Sorption behavior of the novel sorbent for boron was also investigated and found to obey Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. The maximum amount of B (as H₃BO₃) that can be sorbed by the sorbent was calculated from the D-R isotherm and was found to be 0.8 mmol B g⁻¹ of sorbent. The applicability of the new sorbent for the removal/preconcentration of boron from aqueous samples was examined by batch method. It was found that the sorbent can take up 85% of boron in 5 min whereas quantitative sorption is obtained in 30 min. Any pH greater than 6 can be used for sorption. Desorption from the sorbent was carried out using 1.0 M HNO₃. The sorption efficiency of the new sorbent was also compared to that of Amberlite IRA 743, a commercial resin with N-methylglucamine functional groups. Within the experimental conditions employed, the new sorbent was found to have higher sorption efficiency than the commercial resin. For method validation, spike recovery tests were performed at various concentration levels in different water types and were found to be between 83-95 and 75-92% for ultra pure water and geothermal water, respectively.     

New anion-exchange solid-phase extraction support used for preconcentration and determination of lead in water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new chelating resin was prepared by coupling Amberlite XAD-2 with Brilliant Green through an azo spacer. The resulting resin has been characterized by FTIR spectrometry, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis and studied for the preconcentration and determination of trace Pb(II) ions from solution samples. The anionic complex of Pb(II) and iodide was retained on the resin by the formation of an ion associate with Brilliant Green on Amberlite XAD-2 in weak acidic medium. The optimum pH value for sorption of the metal ion was 5.5. The sorption capacity of the functionalized resin is 53.8 mg/g. The chelating resin can be reused for 20 cycles of sorption-desorption without any significant change in sorption capacity. A recovery of 103% was obtained for the metal ion with 0.1 M EDTA as the eluting agent. Scatchard analysis revealed that the homogeneous binding sites were formed in the polymers. The resin was subjected to evaluation through batch binding and column chromatography of Pb(II). The equilibrium adsorption data of Pb(II) on modified resin were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. Based on equilibrium adsorption data, the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin constants were determined to be 0.192, 13.189, and 3.418 at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C. The method was applied for lead ion determination in tap water samples.     

Trends in sorption preconcentration combined with noble metal determination.

Nowadays much attention is being paid to the determination of trace amounts of noble metals in geological, industrial, biological and environmental samples. The most promising techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) are characterized by high sensitivity. However, the accurate determination of trace noble metals has been limited by numerous interferences generated from the presence of matrix elements. To decrease, or eliminate, these interferences, the sorption preconcentration of noble metals is often used prior to their instrumental detection. A great number of hyphenated methods of noble metal determination using sorption preconcentration have been developed. This review describes the basic types of available sorbents, preconcentration procedures and preparations of the sorbent to the subsequent determination of noble metals. The specific features of instrumental techniques and examples of ETAAS, FAAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS determinations after the sorption preconcentration of noble metals are considered. The references cited here were selected mostly from the period 1996 - 2006.     

Continuous approach for ultrasound-assisted acid extraction-minicolumn preconcentration of chromium and cobalt from seafood samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

A rapid and sensitive method has been proposed for the determination of chromium and cobalt in seafood samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry combined with a dynamic ultrasound-assisted acid extraction and an on-line minicolumn preconcentration. The use of diluted nitric acid as extractant in a continuous mode at a flow rate of 3.5 mL min(-1) and room temperature was sufficient for quantitative extraction of these trace metals from seafoods. A minicolumn containing a chelating resin was an excellent device for the quantitative preconcentration of chromium and cobalt prior to their detection. A flow-injection manifold was used as interface for coupling all analytical steps, which allowed the automation of the whole analytical process. A Plackett-Burman experimental design was used as a multivariate strategy for the optimization of both sample preparation and preconcentration steps. The method was successfully applied to the determination of chromium and cobalt in seafood samples.     

Sorption behavior of vanadium on silica gel modified with tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin.

Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) has been loaded on aminopropyl-silica gel by physical adsorption and by direct immobilization through formation of an amide bond to obtain chelating sorbents. These sorbents have been studied for preconcentration and separation of vanadium prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. Several parameters, such as sorption capacity of the chelating resin, pH for retention of V(IV) and V(V), volume of sample and eluent, were evaluated. Both vanadium species sorbed on TCPP-modified resin could be eluted using 2 mol L(-1) nitric acid solution. The recovery values were > 94% and preconcentration factor of 160 was obtained. For speciation analysis, cyclohexane-1,2-diaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) was added to the sample for complexation of vanadium(IV), which was not retained on the microcolumn. The proposed method was examined for reference standard materials (TM-25.2 and CAAS-3) as well as for river water samples.     

Flow injection flame atomic absorption determination of Cu, Mn and Zn partitioning in seawater by on-line room temperature sonolysis and minicolumn chelating resin methodology

A flow-injection system is developed for Cu, Mn and Zn partitioning in seawater by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The first approach is where the trace metal species are fractionated in situ, but analysis is performed by using a flow injection manifold in the laboratory. This operational mode is used for the determination of the dissolved labile metallic fraction and is based on the elution of this fraction from a minicolumn packed with a chelating resin containing iminodiacetic acid groups (Serdolit Chelite Che) loaded in situ with the sample. The second is used for the determination of total dissolved concentrations of trace metals. This last mode is based on the retention/preconcentration of total dissolved metals on the chelating resin after on-line sonolysis of seawater samples acidified with diluted nitric acid to breakdown the metal-organic matter complexes. The figures of merit for Cu, Mn and Zn determinations in both fractions are given and the obtained values are discussed. The fractionation scheme is applied to the analysis of coastal seawater samples collected in Galicia (Northwest, Spain). The results of fractionation showed that Mn and Zn are mainly in the labile fraction, while Cu was mainly present in the organic fraction.     

Modification of nonionic adsorbent with eriochrome blue-black R for selective nickel(II) preconcentration in conventional and flow-injection atomic-absorption spectrometry

Chemical modification of nonionic sorbent Amberlite XAD-2 or anion exchanger Amberlyst A-26 with Eriochrome Blue-Black R (EBBR) produces a chelating resin of satisfactory chemical stability and resistance towards mineral acids. Retention of 10 metal ions has been examined for both resins. EBBR loaded XAD-2 was utilized for nickel(II) preconcentration in atomic-absorption spectrometry. In optimal conditions at a preconcentration time not exceeding 1 hr, nickel(II) can be determined at the 0.1 mug/l. level in flow measurements. Retention of metal ions on chelating resin is a convenient method of preconcentration and elimination of matrix interferences.     

Gold and silver determination in Waters by SPHERON® Thiol 1000 preconcentration and ETAAS

A reliable procedure for the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) determination of gold and silver in waters at trace level is described. The method is based on prior separation and preconcentration of the metals using a chelating sorbent SPHERON® Thiol 1000 after acidification of water samples (pH < 3) with nitric acid. Optimization of analytical variables during enrichment and ETAAS determination of the metals are discussed. The accuracy of the method is verified by analysis of certified reference materials. The limits of determinations based on 10 σ definition were 0.005 ng cm^?3 for Au and 0.02 ng cm^?3 for Ag. Precision of studied elements determination expressed by relative standard deviation varied in the range from 2.9 % to 16.4 %.     

Identification of selective ion-exchange resin for fluoride sorption

The defluoridation capacity (DC) of a chelating resin, namely Indion FR 10 (IND), and Ceralite IRA 400 (CER), an anion-exchange resin, were compared under various equilibrating conditions for the identification of selective sorbent. The results showed that chelating resin is more selective than an anion-exchange resin for fluoride removal. The fluoride sorption was reasonably explained using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The surface morphology of resins before and after fluoride sorption was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for the determination of functional groups responsible for fluoride sorption. Various thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaG0, DeltaH0, DeltaS0, and Ea have been calculated to understand the nature of sorption. The sorption kinetic mechanism was studied with reaction-based and diffusion-based models. The sorption process was found to be controlled by pseudo-second-order and particle diffusion models. The performance of the resins studied has been tested with field samples collected from a fluoride-endemic area.     

Determination of trace rare earth elements by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry after preconcentration on a new chelating resin loaded with thorin

A very stable chelating resin was prepared by adsorption of (o-[3,6-disulfo-2-hidroxy-1-naphthylazo]-benzenearsonic acid) (thorin) on a macroporous resin Amberlite XAD-7. The optimal conditions for preparing it were obtained through the study of the adsorption properties of the resin and the thermodynamic quantities of the adsorption processes. Likewise, the behavior of the loaded resin with the rare earth elements (REE) were studied (pH of retention, sorption kinetics, etc). The conditions to prepare a thin film with this system were also evaluated. The loaded resin was successfully used for the separation and preconcentration of Sm(III), Eu(III) and Gd(III) prior to their determination by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. The preconcentration factor obtained was 500 and the concentrations at low detection limit were 13.8, 17 and 15.7 microg l(-1) for Sm, Eu and Gd, respectively.     

Determination of antimony(III,V) in natural waters by separation and preconcentration on a thionalide loaded resin followed by neutron activation analysis

A chelating sorbent obtained by immobilization of thionalide on the macroporous resin Bio Beads SM-7 was used for speciation of antimony(III) and (V) in natural waters. Antimony(III) was separated from Sb(V) by sorption on a column with the sorbent at pH 5. Antimony(V) in the effluent was reduced to Sb(III) and preconcentrated by sorption on the sorbent from 0.5M HCl solution. Both the separated species were determined directly on the sorbent by neutron activation analysis.