Ti3AlC2 max phase- graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite for selective solid phase microextraction of palladium in environmental samples and medical appliances prior to its detection with high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-FAAS)

Abstract

Palladium is an important metal as it has a wide range of applications in different fields but can cause cancer in human beings. Therefore, precise quantification of palladium is important. For this purpose, new material Ti3AlC2 max phase having unique properties like high stability, thermal conductivity and environmental friendly has been synthesized. To increase its surface area of Ti3AlC2 max phase, graphene oxide (GO) has been incorporated to form Ti3AlC2 max phase GO nanocomposite. Ti3AlC2 max phase GO nanocomposite was used as solid phase extracting material for microextraction and preconcentration of Pd(II) in environmental samples and medical appliances. Characterization of the adsorbent was achieved by using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and surface area analyzer (SAA). All the parameters that influence the extraction efficiency of the adsorbent like solution pH, amount of adsorbent, volume of sample, vortex time, desorption condition and interferences effect were determined and optimized. The limit of detection (0.327 µg/L) and limit of quantification (1.09 µg/L) show that the method is highly sensitive. The relative standard deviation was calculated as 5.48 % for five repeated measurements, which shows that the developed method is reproducible. The method is highly efficient with large values of preconcentration factor (20) and enhancement factors (20). The method was validated by applying the method to real water samples, soil samples and medical appliances with satisfied recovery results (94–106 %).