Preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of palladium in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A highly sensitive, simple and rapid method is presented for the determination of palladium using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after its separation and preconcentration by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Ultra traces of Pd were extracted and preconcentrated in acidic water samples by using 2-amino-1-cyclohexene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid as a suitable chelating agent, and carbon tetrachloride and acetone as extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. The experimental parameters were optimized in order to enhance the extraction efficiency. After optimizing the extraction conditions and various instrumental parameters, an enhancement factor of 350 was obtained. The analytical curve absorbance vs. concentration was linear over the range 0.02–0.6 µg L^-1 Pd. The detection limit and relative standard deviation were 0.007 µg L^-1 and 4.2%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of palladium in roadside soil and several aqueous samples.