Ligand-Lessin situSurfactant-Based Solid Phase Extraction for Preconcentration of Cobalt, Nickel and Zinc from Water Samples Prior to their FAAS Determination

Abstract

A new simple and rapid ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction (LL-ISSPE) was developed for preconcentration of cobalt, nickel and zinc in water samples. In this method, a cationic surfactant containing a proper alkyl group (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) is dissolved in the aqueous sample and then a proper ion-pairing agent (ClO4−) is added. Due to the interaction between surfactant and ion-pairing agent, solid particles are formed and precipitate of the analytes was adsorbed on surface of sorbent. After centrifugation, the sediment is dissolved in 3.0 mL HNO3 in ethanol and then aspirated directly into the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Variables affecting the extraction efficiencies such as pH, concentrations of surfactant and ion pair, CO32− amount, extraction time, time and rate of centrifuge were optimized. Detection limits for Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) based on 3Sb/m were 1.0, 1.5 and 0.3 ng mL−1, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of cobalt, nickel and zinc ions in real water samples.