Separation of copper (II) ions from humic complexes with oxine-impregnated emulsion globules

Abstract

A water-in-oil type emulsion containing oxine has been used for the discrimination of copper(II) ions and copper-humic complexes in aqueous solutions. A toluene solution containing oxine and nonionic surfactant (Span-80) was vigorously mixed with 1 mol/L HCl by ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting emulsion was added to water and dispersed by stirring as numerous small globules. Copper(II) ions were quantitatively permeated across the oil layer and incorporated in the tiny droplets of HCl, whereas copper-humic complexes remained in the sample solution. After collecting the dispersed emulsion globules, they were destroyed by heating to segregate the aqueous (HCl) and organic (toluene) phases. The copper in the aqueous phase was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The analytical results agreed with those obtained by the adsorption method, where negatively charged humic complexes were selectively collected on a macroreticular anion exchanger Sephadex A-25 column. The conventional liquid-liquid extraction did not offer a chemical speciation because copper(II) ions and humic complexes were simultaneously extracted into the organic phase. The proposed emulsion method was successfully applied to the analysis of river water samples.