Preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of heavy metals in natural water samples using a C₁₈ cartridge and atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A rapid and reliable sample preconcentration method has been developed to separate Ni²⁺, Bi ³⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co^2<i>+</i><i> </i>(heavy metal ions) from natural water samples. The<i> </i>chelating agent sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDTC) and a C_l8 cartridge have been used for preconcentration. Extraction efficiency, influence of sample and eluent flow rates, <i>p</i>H, amount of SDDTC, nature and amount of eluent for elution of metal ions from cartridge, break through volume and the limit of detection have been evaluated. The effects of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions on percent recovery of heavy metal ions have also been studied. The limit of detection of the proposed method for Ni²⁺, Bi²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co^2<i>+</i><i> </i>are found to be 1.5, 5, 0.4,3,2.5, 0.6, 0.5 and 1 ppb, respectively. The method is applied to the recovery and determination of heavy metal ions in different water samples.