Solid Phase Extraction and Determination of Lead in Water Samples Using Silica Gel Homogeneously Modified by Thiosalicylic Acid

Abstract

Silica gel was modified by thiosalicylic acid via homogeneous routes to obtain immobilized silica gel sorbent (TSA‐immobilized silica gel). This new sorbent was characterized using variety of physical chemistry techniques including, high resolution solid state ¹³C and ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal analysis (TGA and DTA), elemental analysis, and BET surface analysis as well as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). New support was used for the selective extraction and concentration of lead ions by silica gel modified with thiosalicylic acid, as a highly selective and stable reagent, from aquatic samples and its determination with FAAS. Lead ions can be desorbed with 4 mol dm^?3 HNO₃. The sorption capacity for lead ions are found in the range of 64.40 to 69.90 µmol g^?1 of chelating matrix. Tolerance limits for electrolytes and some trace metals in the sorption of lead is reported. Preconcentration factor was found as 150 for Pb(II). The lead in drinking water, mineral water, tap water, and fruit juice was quantitatively recovered with a relative standard deviation lower than 1.50%. A detection limit of the method for lead ions was found as 3.7 µg l^?1.     

Recovery and determination of palladium from its alloys using iminodiacetic polyurethane/carbon nanofibers sorbent

New sorbent was synthesized by coupling iminodiacetic polyurethane foam with carbon nanofibers to increase its surface area and sorption capacity. FTIR, UV/Vis, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the IDAPUF/CNFs sorbent. By using these techniques, it was found that the sorbent contains 0.58, 0.62, and 2.23 mmol g^?1 of amino, carboxylic, and phenolic groups, respectively. The maximum sorption (99–100%) of palladium(II) ions onto IDAPUF/CNFs was achieved within 10–15 min at pH 5.0. A perfect isotherm curve with a zero intercept (0.0003) and good correlation (R² = 1) was obtained. The capacity of the IDAPUF/CNFs sorbent preloaded onto a glass column was calculated to be 0.58 mmol g^?1. The values of LOD, LOQ, and RSD% (n = 6) are 0.004 ng mL^?1, 0.013 ng mL^?1, and 1.17%, respectively. The accuracy of the procedure was verified by the recovery of Pd(II) ions (100%) from some palladium alloys and road dust samples (RSD% = 0.36).     

Sorption of nickel on chitosan

The sorption of nickel on chitosan was studied using batch method. As a tracer was used radioisotope ⁶³Ni. The effect of pH and contact time to reach sorption equilibrium was investigated. During the sorption of Ni²⁺ ions occur mostly to ion-exchange reactions on the surface of sorbent. The time to reach the sorption equilibrium of nickel on chitosan was 14 h. The percentage of sorption after 14 h achieved the value of 84 %. On the sorption of nickel used solutions with initial pH in the range from 3.9 to 8.1. In the monitored range of pH after 24 h of contact was the sorption of nickel on chitosan >97 %. The sorption of nickel was reduced by increasing concentrations of Ni²⁺ ions in the solution. The experimental data for sorption of nickel have been interpreted in the term of Langmuir isotherm and the value of maximum sorption capacity of nickel on chitosan was 2.71 × 10^?3 mol g^?1.     

Sorption of plutonium from low level liquid waste using nano MnO2

Nano-crystalline MnO₂ has been synthesized by the method of alcoholic hydrolysis of KMnO₄ and its potential as a sorbent for plutonium present in the low level liquid waste (LLW) solutions was investigated. The kinetic studies on the sorption of Pu by MnO₂ reveal the attainment of equilibrium sorption in 15 h, however 90 % of sorption could be achieved within an hour. In the studies on optimization of the solution conditions for sorption, it was observed that the sorption increases with the pH of the aqueous solution, attains the maximum value of 100 % at pH = 3 and remains constant thereafter. The sorption was found to be nearly independent of the ionic strength (0.01–1.0 M) of the aqueous solutions maintained using NaClO₄, indicating the inner sphere complexation between the Pu⁴⁺ ions and the surface sites on MnO₂. Interference studies with different fission products, viz., Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ and Nd³⁺, revealed decrease in the percentage sorption with increasing pH of the suspension indicating the competition between the metal ions. However, at the metal ion concentrations prevalent in the low level liquid waste solutions, the decrease in the Pu sorption was only marginally decreased to 90 % at pH = 3, the decrease being more in the case of Nd³⁺ than that in the case of Cs⁺. This study, therefore, shows nano-crystalline MnO₂ can be used as a sorbent for separation of Pu from LLW solutions.     

Selection of sampling adsorbents and optimisation and validation of a GC-MS/MS method for airborne pesticides

A methodology for the sampling and determination of airborne pesticides has been developed. The trapping efficiency of three adsorbents, namely XAD-2,XAD-4 and a sandwich sorbent (PUF-XAD2-PUF), was tested for 34 pesticides and the latter was selected because it presented the highest retention capacity without breakthrough. Pesticides were determined by gas chromatography coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer in tandem. The method showed recoveries ranging from 70% to 120% with limits of quantification in the range of 16.1–322.6 pg m^?3 when 155 m³ were sampled. This analytical strategy was applied to 10 indoor air samples collected in dwellings from the Valencian Region. Six pesticides, namely diphenylamine, pyrimethanil, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin and cypermethrin were detected in indoor samples with concentrations ranging from 1.46 to 22.02 ng m^?3.     

Determination of As(III) and As(V) in water samples by flow injection online sorption preconcentration coupled to hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] in water samples using flow injection online sorption coupled with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) using a cigarette filter as the sorbent. Selective determination of As(III) was achieved through online formation and retention of the pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate arsenic complex on the cigarette filter, but As(V) which did not form complexes was discarded. After reducing As(V) to As(III) using L-cysteine, total arsenic was determined by HG-AFS. The concentration of As(V) was calculated by the difference between As(III) and total arsenic. The analytes were eluted from the sorbent using 1.68 mol L^?1 HCl. With consumption of 22 mL of the sample solution, the enrichment factor of As(III) was 25.6. The detection limits (3σ/k) and the relative standard deviation for 11 replicate determinations of 1.0 ng mL^?1 As(III) were found to be 7.4 pg mL^?1 and 2.6%, respectively.     

Adsorption of nickel on synthetic hydroxyapatite from aqueous solutions

The sorption of nickel on synthetic hydroxyapatite was investigated using a batch method and radiotracer technique. The hydroxyapatite samples used in experiments were a commercial hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite of high crystallinity with Ca/P ratio of 1.563 and 1.688, respectively, prepared by a wet precipitation process. The sorption of nickel on hydroxyapatite was pH independent ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 as a result of buffering properties of hydroxyapatite. The adsorption of nickel was rapid and the percentage of Ni sorption on both samples of hydroxyapatite was >98 % during the first 15–30 min of the contact time for initial Ni²⁺ concentration of 1 × 10^?4 mol dm^?3. The experimental data for sorption of nickel have been interpreted in the term of Langmuir isotherm and the value of maximum sorption capacity of nickel on a commercial hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite prepared by wet precipitation process was calculated to be 0.184 and 0.247 mmol g^?1, respectively. The sorption of Ni²⁺ ions was performed by ion-exchange with Ca²⁺ cations on the crystal surface of hydroxyapatite under experimental conditions. The competition effect of Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺ towards Ni²⁺ sorption was stronger than that of Ca²⁺ ions. NH₄ ⁺ ions have no apparent effect on nickel sorption.     

Immobilization of calix[6]arene bearing carboxylic acid and amide groups on aminopropyl silica gel and its sorption properties for Cr(VI)

An aminopropyl silica gel-immobilized calix[6]arene (C[6]APS) containing both amide and acid moieties was prepared from p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene hexacarboxylate derivative and aminopropyl silica gel in the presence of N,N′-diisopropyl carbodiimide coupling reagent. C[6]APS was used to evaluate the sorption properties of Cr(VI) as a sorbent material. In sorption studies, it was observed that C[6]APS was highly effective at pH 1.5 for Cr(VI). The effect of parameters such as pH, sorbent dosage, contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration and temperature on Cr(VI) sorption; the sorption isotherms were also studied. Maximum sorption capacity was obtained as 3.1 mg g^?1 at pH 1.5 and 25 °C for 1 h and 10.4 mg L^?1 initial Cr(VI) concentration. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also determined. In the isotherm studies, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied and it was found that the experimental data confirmed to Freundlich isotherm model, and the batch sorption capacity of C[6]APS was calculated as 37.66 mg g^?1.     

Sorption of americium from low-level liquid wastes by nanocrystalline MnO2

Nanocrystalline MnO₂, synthesized by alcoholic hydrolysis of KMnO₄, has been studied as a sorbent for removal of americium from low level liquid waste solutions. The synthesized MnO₂ was found to have BET surface area of 230 m² g^?1. Am(III) was found to be sorbed by MnO₂ quantitatively within 15 min at pH 5. The sorption was found to be more than 90 % at as low a pH as 1.2 and reached to near 100 % at all pH values above pH 3.0 There was no effect of ionic strength (0.01–1.0 M NaCl, CaCl₂) on the sorption suggesting the sorption following inner sphere complexation mechanism at all the pH values. Adsorption isotherm studies were carried out using Eu(III) as a chemical analogue of Am(III). These studies showed the isotherm data to follow Langmuir adsorption isotherm.     

Extraction and preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of beryllium from aqueous samples by nanometer mesoporous silica functionalized by 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde prior to ICP OES determination

A new functionalized nanometer mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4-OHsal) was applied as an effective sorbent for solid phase extraction (SPE) of beryllium ions from aqueous solution followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric detection (ICP OES). The influences of some analytical parameters on the quantitative recoveries of the analyte ion were investigated in batch method. In order to perform the batch mode of SPE, known amount of sorbent was added to a test tube containing sample solution buffered at pH 7.2. After manual shaking and centrifugation the aqueous phase was decanted and beryllium was desorbed by adding 1.0 mL of 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ to the sedimented sorbent. The sorbent was separated by centrifugation and the concentration of beryllium in the supernatant was determined by ICP OES. The maximum sorption capacity of the modified MCM-41 was found to be 34 mg g^?1. The sorbent exhibited good stability, reusability and fast rate of equilibrium for sorption/desorption of beryllium ions. The present method was used for preconcentration and determination of beryllium for water samples. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) obtained was 0.3 ng L^?1. The accuracy of the procedure was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material (NIST 1640).     

Synthesis of ion-imprinted mesoporous silica gel sorbent for selective adsorption of copper ions in aqueous media

A new Cu(II) ion-imprinted sorbent was synthesized by a surface imprinting technique and characterized by FT-IR and SEM. Compared to the non-imprinted sorbent, the Cu(II) ion-imprinted sorbent had a higher adsorption capacity and selectivity for Cu(II). The static adsorption capacity of the Cu(II) ion-imprinted sorbent and non-imprinted sorbent for Cu(II) were 84.5 and 46.5 μmol?g^?1, respectively. The best selectivity coefficient over Zn(II) or Cd(II) ion was over 12. The relative selectivity coefficients of the sorbent for Cu(II) in the presence of Zn(II) and Cd(II) were 13 and 35, respectively. Furthermore, the new sorbent possessed a fast kinetics for Cu(II) sorption from aqueous solution with saturation time of <30 min, and could be used repeatedly. The standard deviation for 11 replicate determinations of 0.5 mg?L^?1 Cu(II) was 0.8%. This new Cu(II) ion-imprinted sorbent can be used as an effective solid-phase extraction material for the selective preconcentration and separation of Cu(II).     

Sorption of radioactive strontium on a silica-titania mixed hydrous oxide gel

A silica-titania (Si–Ti) mixed hydroxide gel with Ti to Si mole ratio of 11 was prepared. Studies on the sorption of radiostrontium from alkaline solutions having various concentrations of sodium were carried out with Si–Ti. The distribution coefficient (K _d) of strontium decreased with increasing concentrations of sodium from 0.1 to 4.0 mol·dm^–3. The plot of logK _d versus log [Na⁺] gave a slope of –0.55 as against the theoretical value of –2.0. This suggests that some other paths in addition to the simple stoichiometric ion exchange is also existing for sorption. From pH titrations the pH_pzc of Si–Ti was found to be 4.22 coinciding nearly with the pH sorption edge. An attempt was made to correlate the sorption results with the surface characteristics of the sorbent. It was found that sorption is favored when the surface of the sorbent transforms into an anionic form. Sharp increase in the sorption of strontium was observed when the equilibrium pH was between 7 and 10. This behavior could be attributed to the abrupt increase in net negative charge on the surface of the sorbent.     

Effects of alumina phases on CO2 sorption and regeneration properties of potassium-based alumina sorbents

A range of potassium-based alumina sorbents were fabricated by impregnation of alumina with K₂CO₃ to examine the effects of the structural and textural properties of alumina on the CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties. Alumina materials, which were used as supports, were prepared by calcining alumina at various temperatures (300, 600, 950, and 1,200 °C). The CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties of these sorbents were examined during multiple tests in a fixed-bed reactor in the presence of 1 vol% CO₂ and 9 vol% H₂O. The regeneration capacities of the potassium-based alumina sorbents increased with increasing calcination temperature of alumina. The formation of KHCO₃ increased with increasing calcination temperature during CO₂ sorption, whereas the formation of KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂, which is an inactive material, decreased. These results is due to the fact that the structure of alumina by the calcination temperature is related directly to the formation of the by-product [KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂]. The structure of alumina plays an important role in enhancing the regeneration capacity of the potassium-based alumina sorbent. Based on these results, a new potassium-based sorbent using δ-Al₂O₃ as a support was developed for post-combustion CO₂ capture. This sorbent maintained a high CO₂ capture capacity of 88 mg CO₂/g sorbent after two cycles. In particular, it showed a faster sorption rate than the other potassium-based alumina sorbents examined.     

Characterization of Co(II) removal from aqueous solution using bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites

The bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites were prepared by co-precipitation method, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The prepared bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites were used as a sorbent for the removal of Co(II) ions from radioactive wastewater. The results demonstrated that the sorption of Co(II) was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength at low pH values. The sorption of Co(II) was dominated by outer-sphere surface complexation or ion exchange at low pH whereas inner-sphere surface complexation was the main sorption mechanism at high pH. The presence of iron oxide in the composites also contributes to the sorption of Co(II) ions on the magnetic composites. The experimental data were well described by Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters (∆G ^°, ∆S ^°, ∆H ^°) calculated from the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms indicated that the sorption of Co(II) on bentonite/iron oxide magnetic composites was an endothermic and spontaneous processes.     

Determination of diphenylamine in contaminated air of agricultural buildings using active sampling on solid sorbents

This paper reports the results of a study carried out with solid sorbents in order to establish the optimum procedure for sampling and determination of diphenylamine (DPA), the most widely used post-harvest chemical in apples, in the indoor air of apple storage buildings. Different sorbents (Amberlite XAD-2, Amberlite XAD-4, Supelpak 2, Florisil, and the octadecyl silica bonded sorbent, C-18) were evaluated for their capacity to efficiently retain DPA under different air sampling and storage conditions, whereas a desorption study of all sorbents tested was also performed to optimise a simple extraction procedure using low volumes of organic solvents. In general all sorbents produced acceptable results for DPA air sampling whereas DPA was recovered easily by the use of low volumes of both ethyl acetate and acetone from all sorbents studied thus making DPA a suitable analyte to be used in methods of indoor air analysis for multi-organic pollutants. However, the best results (analytical features, recovery results, and stability results during storage) were obtained by the use of Supelpak 2 as a sorbent for DPA active sampling. Limits of Quantification (LOQs) for the GC-NPD system ranged from 1.0 to 2.0?µg?m^?3 for 120 and 60?L air sampled, respectively. The developed air sampling procedure and analytical methodology was applied with success in the field to measure DPA residues in indoor air of two apple storage plants in Greece and results were further used to calculate the occupational inhalation exposure to DPA and consequently risk characterisation. Since DPA was detected in indoor air (at concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 580?µg?m^?3), there is no zero occupational risk for workers. However, the inhalation exposure of workers to DPA estimated in this study is far below the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level recently reviewed by the European Union and far below the critical exposure level for haematotoxicity systemic effect observed in carcinogenicity studies in rats for long-term inhalation exposure to DPA.     

Online thorium determination after preconcentration in a minicolumn having XAD-4 resin impregnated with N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine by FI-spectrophotometry

A very sensitive and selective flow injection on-line determination method of thorium (IV) after preconcentration in a minicolumn having XAD-4 resin impregnated with N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine is described. Thorium (IV) was selectively adsorbed from aqueous solution of pH 4.5 in a minicolumn at a flow rate of 13.6 mL min^?1, eluted with 3.6 mol dm^?3 HCl (5.6 mL min^?1), mixed with arsenazo-III (0.05% in 3.6 mol dm^?3 HCl stabilized with 1% Triton X-100, 5.6 mL min^?1) at confluence point and taken to the flow through cell of spectrophotometer where its absorbance was measured at 660 nm. Peak height was used for data analyses. The preconcentration factors obtained were 32 and 162, detection limits of 0.76 and 0.150 ??g L^?1, sample throughputs of 40 and 11 h^?1 for preconcentration times of 60 and 300 s, respectively. The tolerance levels for Zr(IV) and U(VI) metal ions is increased to 50-folds higher concentration to Th(IV). The proposed method was applied on different spiked tap water, sea water and biological sample and good recovery was obtained. The method was also applied on certified reference material IAEA-SL1 (Lake Sediment) for the determination of thorium and the results were in good agreement with the reported value.     

Preparation of activated carbon from organic fraction of municipal solid wastes by ZnCl2 activation method and use it for elimination of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions

In this study, the use of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste as an abundant and low-cost raw material for producing activated carbon was investigated. For this purpose, ZnCl₂ was used as a chemical activation agent and the carbonization process took place at 800 °C in N₂ atmosphere. Seven sorbents were prepared by chemical activation (pyrolysis under N₂ atmosphere at temperature of 800 °C after impregnation with ZnCl₂) with different ratios of ZnCl₂. The optimum ratio of organic fraction of municipal solid waste to ZnCl₂ was inspected via methylene blue number and iodine number (ASTM Designation: D4607–94). The results showed that the adsorbent with 60 % ZnCl₂/raw material was the most appropriate one with a satisfactory adsorption capacity, 112.4 mg g^?1 for methylene blue and 134.0 mg g^?1 for iodine. In addition, the structural analysis of this sorbent was performed using FT-IR, BET surface area, SEM–EDX and thermal analysis. Application of this sorbent to remove Cr(VI) from wastewater was studied to find an adsorption capacity of 66.7 mg g^?1. The experimental adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir adsorption model with an acceptable adsorption capacity of 66.7 mg g^?1.     

Removal of Oil Products from Water Using a Combined Process of Sorption and Plasma Exposure to DBD

The paper presents the results of studies of a combined process involving the sorption of engine oil on a sorbent (diatomite) followed by regeneration of the sorbent by plasma-oxidative destruction of oil in DBD of atmospheric pressure in oxygen. The process parameters (gas flow rate, sorbent mass, power, treatment time), which provide the possibility of fivefold regeneration of the sorbent and 100% degree of oil decomposition, are revealed. It was found that the kinetics of oil degradation obeys the pseudo-first kinetic order equation with a rate constant of 0.017 s^?1. The energy efficiency of the decomposition was 0.169 molecules of oil per 100 eV of input energy. It is shown that treatment of the sorbent for 5 min leads to the complete decomposition of oil. The products of oil decomposition are carboxylic acids, aldehydes and CO₂. Complete removal of acids and aldehydes requires the time of about 40 min. The possible participation of ozone in the oxidative degradation of oil is discussed.     

Preconcentration of mercury(II) using a thiol-functionalized metal-organic framework nanocomposite as a sorbent

A novel type of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) was obtained from thiol-modified silica nanoparticles and the copper(II) complex of trimesic acid. It is shown that this nanocomposite is well suitable for the preconcentration of Hg(II) ions. The nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of pH value, sorption time, elution time, the volume and concentration of eluent were investigated. Equilibrium isotherms were studied, and four models were applied to analyze the equilibrium adsorption data. The results revealed that the adsorption process obeyed the Langmuir model. The maximum monolayer capacity and the Langmuir constant are 210 mg g^?1 and 0.273 L mg^?1, respectively. The new MOF-based nanocomposite is shown to be an efficient and selective sorbent for Hg(II). Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection is 20 pg mL^?1 of Hg(II), and the relative standard deviation is <7.2 % (for n?=?3). The sorbent was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of Hg(II) ions from fish, sediment, and water samples.

Sorption of thallium(III) ions from aqueous solutions using titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) were employed for the sorption of Tl(III) ions from aqueous solution. The process was studied in detail by varying the sorption time, pH, Tl(III) concentration, temperature, and amount of sorbent. The sorption was found to be fast and to reach equilibrium within 2 min, to be less efficient at low pH values, and to increase with pH and temperature. The sorption fits the Langmuir equation and follows a pseudo second order model. The mean energy of the sorption is approximately 15 kJ mol^?1 as calculated from the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters for the sorption were also determined, and the ΔH ⁰ and ΔG ⁰ values indicate endothermic behavior.