Determination of some trace metals in waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration on Amberlite XAD-16 resin with sodium tetraborate

A method was described for the determination of the elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Bi in waters by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after separation and preconcentration on Amberlite XAD-16 resin with sodium tetraborate using a chromatographic column. Parameters influencing the analytical performance, including pH and the volume of sample, amount of analyte and interfering effect of co-existing ions, were studied in detail. The recovery values were quantitative (> or = 95%), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) and detection limit (DL) varied in the range of 1.1-2.4% (n=10) and 0.002-0.177 microg m(-1) (3s, n=20), respectively. After being optimized, the proposed method was applied to the drinking water, waste water and artificial sea water samples. Recovery values of the elements investigated, were quantitative for tap water and synthetic sea water, except for Mn, Co and Ni (including also Cd for synthetic sea water). Recovery values of Cd, Pb, Cu and Co were found to be 95, 102, < or = 87, and < or = 83%, respectively, for the waste water samples.     

Simultaneous multi-element analysis for trace metals in sea water by inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry after batch preconcentration on a chelating resin

Batch treatment with Chelex-100 resin was investigated for preconcentration of trace metals in sea water followed by determination by inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The preconcentration conditions such as resin weight, stirring time, and amount of ammonium acetate buffer solution were carefully examined for effective multi-element preconcentration from sea water. The resin weight could be decreased to 0.5 g (dry weight) for 1 l of sea water, which was much less than that required in the column method, and a preconcentration factor of 100 was achieved. Al, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Mo, Cd and Pb in sea water were measured with good precision. The detection limits ranged from 6 to 180 ng l^?1. The time required for one sample by the batch method was only 3 h.     

Preconcentration and determination of trace elements with 2-aminoacetylthiophenol functionalized Amberlite XAD-2 by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

2-Aminoacetylthiophenol (AATP)-modified Amberlite XAD-2 has been synthesized by coupling it through NNNH group. The resulting chelating resin, characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared (IR) spectra, was used to preconcentrate Cd, Hg, Ag, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn ions. Several parameters, such as distribution coefficient and sorption capacity of the chelating resin, pH and flow rates of uptake and striping, volume of sample and eluent, were evaluated. The effects of electrolytes and cations on the preconcentration were also investigated. The recoveries were >96%. The procedure was validated by standard addition and analysis of a standard reference sediment material (GBW 07309 China). The developed method was utilized for preconcentration and determination of Cd, Hg, Ag, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn in tap water, river water and sediment samples by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with satisfactory results. The 3σ detection limits for Cd, Hg, Ag, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn were found to be 0.10, 0.23, 0.41, 0.13, 0.25, 0.39 and 0.58 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the determination was <10%.     

The uses of 1-(2-pyridylazo) 2-naphtol (PAN) impregnated Ambersorb 563 resin on the solid phase extraction of traces heavy metal ions and their determinations by atomic absorption spectrometry

1-(2-pyridylazo) 2-naphtol (PAN) impregnated Ambersorb 563 resin was used as solid phase extractor of copper, nickel, cadmium, lead, chromium and cobalt ions in aqueous solutions prior to their atomic absorption spectrometric determinations. The parameters including pH, sample volume, matrix effects were also investigated. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of the combined method of sample treatment, preconcentration and determination with atomic absorption spectrometry is generally lower than 10%. The limit of detection was between 0.21 and 1.4 μg l⁻¹. The results were used for preconcentration of analyte ions from natural water samples. The method was also applied to a stream sediment standard reference material (GBW7309) for the determination of Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr and Co.     

The Enrichment/Separation of Fe, Co, Pb, Cd, and Cr on Ambersorb 563 Prior to Their Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determinations

A sorbent extraction method for the separation/preconcentration of Fe, Co, Pb, Cd, and Cr was developed. The analyte metal ions were retained on a column of Ambersorb 563 from a buffered sample solution. The flow rates of the sample and eluent solution were controlled by a peristaltic pump. The analyte ions were quantitatively retained at pH 9 by using an ammonia/ammonium chloride buffer solution, and were then eluted with 5 mL of 0.25 M HNO₃ at 5 mL/min flow rate. The detection limits were in the range of 0.33 and 72 g/L for Cd and Pb, respectively. The relative standard deviations were less than 10%. Recoveries of spike addition to drinking water and seawater were quantitative. The method presented was applied for the determination of Fe, Co, Pb, Cd, and Cr ions in drinking and seawater samples with satisfactory results (recoveries >95%).     

Molybdenum(VI) Oxide-Modified Silica Gel as a Novel Sorbent for the Simultaneous Solid-Phase Extraction of Eight Metals with Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A silica-based inorganic sorbent was synthesized by the thermal decomposition of ammonium heptamolybdate on silica and applied for the preconcentration and simultaneous determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in river water samples using a column system with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron dispersive spectroscopy were used for sorbent characterization. The effects of pH, sample volume, eluent type, eluent concentration, eluent volume, sample flow rate, and matrix ions (Al, Bi, Ca, Mg, and Zn) on the recovery of the metals in model solutions were investigated. The adsorption capacities (µmol g^?1) of SiO₂-MoO₃ were 88.96 (Cd), 169.69 (Co), 153.85 (Cr), 188.88 (Cu), 179.05 (Fe), 163.81 (Mn), 136.31 (Ni), and 38.61 (Pb). The detection limits of the method were 9.09, 10.82, 10.77, 49.57, 31.64, 6.40, 8.86, 19.15?µg L^?1 for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb, respectively, with a preconcentration factor of 25. The developed method was used for the determination of the target metals in real samples and the recoveries for spiked samples were found to be from 91.2% to 102.9%.     

A novel method for the simultaneous determination of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) in environmental water samples

A novel UV-VIS spectrophotometric method was developed in this study by using solid phase extraction procedure for the simultaneous preconcentration, separation and determination of trace levels of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions in various water samples by using Amberlite N,N-bis(salicylidene)cyclohexanediamine (SCHD) resin. This study presents the results of experimental procedures carried out like the adsorption of analytes to the resin, influences of some analytical parameters that effect the recovery such as pH, sample volume, sample flow rate, eluent type and concentration, eluent volume, eluent flow rate and the effects of alkaline metals, earth alkaline metals and some other transition metals. The analytes in the samples with the adjusted pH range of 4–7 were adsorbed on XAD-4-SCHD resin and eluted by using 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid. The amounts of ions were determined by using UV-VIS spectrometer. The limits of detection were 0.03, 0.07 and 0.05 µg mL^?1 for Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II), respectively. The accuracy of the method was assured by the analysis of the certified standard water sample NW-TMDA-70.2 and the observed recoveries were above 93%. Different environmental water samples that contain trace amounts of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) were analysed by using the method developed in this study. Same samples were also analysed by ICP-MS for comparison and almost the similar results were observed. The method developed in this study was successfully applied to the various environmental water samples to determine the trace levels of Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions.     

Preconcentration of trace metals with 2-(methylthio)aniline-functionalized XAD-2 and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

2-(Methylthio)aniline-modified Amberlite XAD-2 has been synthesized by coupling it through a NNNH group. The resulting chelating resin, characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectra, was used to preconcentrate Cd, Hg, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn ions. Several parameters, such as the distribution coefficient and sorption capacity of the chelating resin, pH and flow rates of uptake and stripping, and volume of sample and eluent, were evaluated. The effect of electrolytes and cations on the preconcentration was also investigated. The recoveries were >96%. The procedure was validated by standard addition and analysis of a standard river sediment material (GBW 08301, China). The developed method was utilized for preconcentration and determination of Cd, Hg, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn in tap water and river water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with satisfactory results. The 3σ detection limit and 10σ quantification limit for Cd, Hg, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn were found to be 0.022, 0.028, 0.033, 0.045, 0.041, 0.064 μg l⁻¹ and 0.041, 0.043, 0.052, 0.064, 0.058, 0.083 μg l⁻¹, respectively.     

Preconcentration and separation with Amberlite XAD-4 resin; determination of Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cd and Bi at trace levels in waste water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the preconcentration of Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cd and Bi as their diethyldithiocarbamate chelates was proposed using a column filled with Amberlite XAD-4 resin. The retained analytes on the resin were recovered with a small volume of acetone. The metal ions in the effluent were determined by a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Different factors including pH of sample solution, sample volume, amount of XAD-4 resin, amount of ligand, eluent volume and matrix effects for preconcentration were examined. The recoveries for the analytes under the optimum working conditions were higher than 95%. The relative standard deviations of the determinations were below 9%. The limits of detection (3 s, n=20) for analytes were found to be between 4 and 23 mug l(-1). The proposed method was applied to the analysis of some waste waters from the organized industrial region of Kayseri.     

Separation and preconcentration of trace manganese from various samples with Amberlyst 36 column and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

This work assesses the potential of a new adsorptive material, Amberlyst 36, for the separation and preconcentration of trace manganese(II) from various media. It is based on the sorption of manganese(II) ions onto a column filled with Amberlyst 36 cation exchange resin, followed by the elution with 5 mL of 3 mol/L nitric acid and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) without interference of the matrix. Different factors including pH of sample solution, sample volume, amount of resin, flow rate of sample solution, volume and concentration of eluent, and matrix effects for preconcentration were investigated. Good relative standard deviation (3%) and high recovery (>95%) at 100 μg/L and high enrichment factor (200) and low analytical detection limit (0.245 μg/L) were obtained. The adsorption equilibrium was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 88 mg/g of manganese on the resin. The method was applied for the manganese determination by FAAS in tap water, commercial natural drinking water, commercial treated drinking water and commercial tea bag sample. The accuracy of the method is confirmed by analyzing the certified reference material (tea leaves GBW 07605). The results demonstrated good agreement with the certified values.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions in water,fertilizer and tea samples after preconcentration on Amberlite XAD-1180 resin loaded with l-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

A new chelating resin, 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) coated Amberlite XAD-1180 (AXAD-1180), was prepared and used for the preconcentration of Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimum pH for simultaneous retention of the elements and the best elution means for their simultaneous elution were pH 9.5 and 3 M HNO₃, respectively. The sorption capacity of the resin was found to be 5.3 mg/g for Cd and 3.7 mg/g for Ni. The detection limits for Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 0.7, 10, 3.1, 29 and 0.8 μg/L, respectively. The effects of interfering ions for quantitative sorption of the metal ions were investigated. The preconcentration factors of the method were in the range of 10–30. The recoveries obtained were quantitative (≥95%). The standard reference material (GBW07605 Tea sample) was analysed for accuracy of the described method. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of various water, urea fertilizer and tea samples. The article is published in the original.     

Solid-phase extraction using multiwalled carbon nanotubes and quinalizarin for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of some heavy metals in food,water and environmental samples

A solid phase extraction procedure has been developed using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a solid sorbent and quinalizarin [1,2,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione] as a chelating agent for separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of some heavy metal ions, Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) before their determination by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The influences of the analytical parameters, including pH, amounts of quinalizarin and adsorbent, sample volume, elution conditions such as volume and concentration of eluent, flow rates of solution and matrix ions, were investigated for the optimum recoveries of the analyte ions. No interference effects were observed from the foreign metal ions. The preconcentration factor was 100. The detection limit (LOD) for the investigated metals at the optimal conditions were observed in the range of 0.30–0.65 μg L^?1. The relative standard deviation (RSDs), and the recoveries of standard addition for this method were lower than 5.0% and 96–102%, respectively. The new procedure was successfully applied to the determination of analytes in food, water and environmental samples with satisfactory results.     

Use of clinoptilolite loaded with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol as a sorbent for preconcentration of Pb(II), Ni(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

A solid phase extraction system for separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of Pb(II), Ni(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) is proposed. The procedure is based on the adsorption of Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions on a column of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) immobilised on surfactant-coated clinoptilolite prior to their determinations by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The effective parameters including pH, sample volume, sample flow rate and eluent flow rate were also studied. The analytes collected on the column were eluted with 5 mL of 1 mol L^?1 nitric acid. A concentration factor of 180 can be achieved by passing 900 mL of sample through the column. The detection limits (3 s) for Cd, Cu, Pb and Ni were found to be 0.28, 0.12, 0.44 and 0.46 µg L^?1, respectively. The relative SDs at 10 µg L^?1 (n = 10) for analytes were in the range of 1.2–1.4%. The method was applied to the determination of Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu in water samples.     

A novel preconcentration method for determination of iron and lead using Chromosorb-103 and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Syringe connected-minicolumn (SCM) method for the preconcentration/separation of iron and lead prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. The proposed method is substituted for classical batch and column methods. The method proposed was compared with the column method with respect to easiness, rapidness, simplicity and some analytical performance criteria such as recovery, precision, accuracy and risk of contamination. A minicolumn was filled with Chromosorb-103 as a sorbent and connected with a syringe. The experimental conditions such as pH of sample, concentration and amount of eluent, flow rates of sample and eluent, concentration of 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as a complexing agent were optimized. The sample solution with or without oxine was drawn into the syringe and discharged manually passing through the resin. Analytes were retained at pH ≥5 and eluted with 1 M nitric acid in acetone quantitatively. Analyte elements could be concentrated up to 200-fold. The iron and lead in river-water samples and in certified reference Bovine Liver (NIST 1577b) were quantitatively recovered with relative standard deviation lower than 10%.     

Determination of trace metal ions by AAS in natural water samples after preconcentration of pyrocatechol violet complexes on an activated carbon column

A simple preconcentration method is described for the determination of Cu, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr in water samples by flame AAS. Trace metal ions in water were sorbed as pyrocatechol violet complexes on activated carbon column at the pH range of 4–8, then eluted with 1 M HNO₃ in acetone. The effect of major cations and anions of the natural water samples on the sorption of metal ions has been also investigated. The concentration of the metal ions detected after preconcentration was in agreement with the added amount. The present method was found to be applicable to the preconcentration of Cu, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr in natural water samples with good results such as R.S.D. from 3 to 8% (N=10) and detection limits under 70 ng l⁻¹.     

The efficiency of cellix-p for the preconcentration of lead and other trace metals from waters

The cheating ion-exchanger Cellex-P, a cellulose phosphate ester, is shown to be effective for the preconcentration of Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd, Zn and Pb from water. The pH of the sample is not critical within the approximate range 5–8. The collected ions can be eluted efficiently in 10–25 ml of 1 M nitric acid from 2–16.5-cm columns of resin. Common salts present in natural waters do not interfere. Cellex-P is used for the preconcentration and determination of the metal ions in potable water by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.     

On-line Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Metals in Water Samples by Flow Injection Combined with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry via Calix[4]arene Carboxylic Acid Packed Micro-column

An adsorbent calix[4]arene carboxylic acid was employed as the adsorption material for on-line flow injection( FI) micro-column preconcentration coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry(FAAS) determination of trace heavy metals(Cu, Pb, Co, Ni and Cd). Parameters such as the pH, loading time and flow rate of sample, and the concentration, volume and flow rate of eluent were optimized. The enrichment factors are 50.0, 56.5, 11.6, 12.1 and 19.1 for Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cd, respectively, and a sample throughput of 20 h^-1 was obtained. The limits of detection for Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cd were in a range of 1.56―3.91 μg/L, and the relative standard deviations(RSDs) were less than 2.76%(n=7). Furthermore, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Cu, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cd in certified reference materials and various water samples.     

Optimization of a new resin, Amberlyst 36, as a solid-phase extractor and determination of copper(II) in drinking water and tea samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new simple and reliable method has been developed to separate and preconcentrate trace copper ion in drinking water and tea samples for subsequent measurement by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The copper ions are adsorbed quantitatively during passage of aqueous solutions through Amberlyst 36 cation exchange resin. After the separation and preconcentration stage, the analyte was eluted with a potassium cyanide solution and determined by FAAS. Different factors including pH of sample solution, sample volume, amount of resin, flow rate of aqueous solution, volume and concentration of eluent, and matrix effects for preconcentration were examined. The analytical figures of merit for the determination of copper are as follows: analytical detection limit (3 sigma), 0.26 microg/L; precision (RSD), 3.1% for 100 microg/L; enrichment factor, 200 (using 1000 mL of sample solution and 5 mL of eluent); time of analysis, 3.5 h (for obtaining enrichment factor of 200); capacity of resin, 125 mg/g. The method was applied for copper determination by FAAS in tap water, commercial natural spring water, commercial treated drinking water, and commercial tea bag sample. The accuracy of the method is confirmed by analyzing tea leaves (GBW 07605). The results demonstrated good agreement with the certified values.     

A new chelating resin for preconcentration and determination of Mn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new polychelatogen, AXAD-16-1,2-diphenylethanolamine, was developed by chemically modifying Amberlite XAD-16 with 1,2-diphenylethanolamine to produce an effective metal-chelating functionality for the preconcentration of Mn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Various physiochemical parameters that influence the quantitative preconcentration and recovery of metal were optimized by both static and dynamic techniques. The resin showed superior extraction efficiency with high-metal loading capacity values of 0.73, 0.80, 0.77, 0.87, 0.74, and 0.81 mmol/g for Mn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), respectively. The system also showed rapid metal-ion extraction and stripping, with complete saturation in the sorbent phase within 15 min for all the metal ions. The optimum condition for effective metal-ion extraction was found to be a neutral pH, which is a great advantage in the preconcentration of trace metal ions from natural water samples without any chemical pretreatment of the sample. The resin also demonstrated exclusive ion selectivity toward targeted metal ions by showing greater resistivity to various complexing species and more common metal ions during analyte concentration, which ultimately led to high preconcentration factors of 700 for Cu(II); 600 for Mn(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II); and 500 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), arising from a larger sample breakthrough volume. The lower limits of metal-ion detection were 7 ng/mL for Mn(II) and Ni(II); 5 ng/mL for Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II), and 10 ng/mL for Pb(II). The developed resin was successful in preconcentrating metal ions from synthetic and real water samples, multivitamin-multimineral tablets, and curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) with relative standard deviations of < or = 3.0% for all analytical measurements, which demonstrated its practical utility.     

Pyrocatechol Violet immobilized Amberlite XAD-2: synthesis and metal-ion uptake properties suitable for analytical applications

Amberlite XAD-2 has been functionalized by coupling it, through the ---N=N--- group, with Pyrocatechol Violet (PV), and the resulting resin has been characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and IR spectra. The resin has been used for preconcentrating Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II) ions prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption are 5, 5–7, 4, and 3 for Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni, respectively. The four metals can be desorbed (recovery ˜98%) with 4 M HNO₃; also, 4 M HCl is equally suitable except for Zn. The sorption capacity of the resin is 1410, 1270, 620 and 1360 μg g⁻¹ resin for Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb, respectively. The effect of F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ on the sorption of these four metal ions has been investigated. They are tolerable in the range 0.01–0.20 M, for Pb. In the sorption of Zn(II) and Ni(II), the tolerance limits of all these ions are upto 0.01 M, whereas for Cd(II), F⁻, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻ have been found to be tolerable upto 0.50, 0.10 and 0.10 M, respectively. The preconcentration factors are 60, 50, 23 and 18 for Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni, respectively. Simultaneous collection and determination of the four metals are possible. Cations commonly present in drinking water do not affect the sorption of either metal ion if present at a concentration level similar to that of water. The method has been applied to determine Zn, Ni and Pb content of well-water samples (RSD ≤9%).