Fast and selective magnetic solid phase extraction of trace Cd, Mn and Pb in environmental and biological samples and their determination by ICP-MS

We have immobilized iminodiacetic acid on mesoporous Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ microspheres and used this material for efficient and cost effective method of magnetic solid phase extraction (SPE) of trace levels of Cd, Mn and Pb. The microspheres were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The loaded microspheres can be easily separated from the aqueous sample solution by applying an external magnetic field. The effects of pH, sample volume, concentration and volume of eluent, and of interfering ions were investigated in detail. The method has detection limit of 0.16, 0.26 and 0.26?ng?L^?1 for the ions of Cd, Mn and Pb, respectively, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs, c?=?1???g?L^?1, n?=?7) are 4.8%, 4.6% and 7.4%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of these metals in biological and environmental samples using ICP-MS. Two certified reference materials were analyzed, and the results coincided well with the certified values.