Solid-Phase Extraction of Copper with Cupron on Octadecyl Silica Cartridge and its Determination with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Solid-phase extraction of trace amounts of copper from large volumes of aqueous solutions was studied. The extraction was carried out by means of an octadecyl silica cartridge modified with cupron. The effect of different parameters such as sample matrix, flowrates of sample solution and eluent, pH, breakthrough volume, and potentially interfering ions was examined. Cu²⁺ was extracted from solution in the pH range of 6–8.5 on a modified cartridge. Elution was accomplished using 2mL of 0.2M HNO₃. Hence, with a typical preconcentration factor of 1000, a detection limit of 0.02ngmL^–1 was obtained. The method was applied to the determination of copper in natural water samples.