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.