Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Platinum in Environmental Samples on Different Sorbents: A comparative study

Abstract

Since the introduction of the catalytic cleaning of vehicle exhaust gases, platinum is discussed as environmentally relevant element. Increasing Pt concentrations have been reported from a number of countries. The determination of platinum in biological and environmental materials at the “natural” level was made possible by the development of extremely sensitive analytical methods. Two different sorbents for platinum preconcentration in catalyst, water, soil and vegetation were investigated: silica gel functionalized with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridyl)methylene thiocarbohydrazide (DPTH-gel) and [1,5-Bis(2-pyridyl)-3-sulphophenyl methylene thiocarbonohydrazide (PSTH) immobilised on an anion-exchange resin (Dowex 1x 8-200)]. The sorbents were tested in a microcolumn, placed in the autosampler arm, at the flow rate 2.4 ml min. Elution was performed with 2 M nitric acid. Satisfactory results were obtained for two sorbents.