Zirconium nanoparticles based ligandless dispersive solid phase extraction for the determination of antimony in bergamot and mint tea samples by slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

A sensitive and effective analytical method was developed to preconcentrate antimony from the bergamot and mint tea samples for its determination at trace levels by slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (SQT-FAAS) system. The developed method was based on vortex assisted ligandless dispersive solid phase extraction (VA-LDSPE) using zirconium nanoparticles (Zr-NPs) as sorbent material for the adsorption of the target analyte. All variables involved in the DSPE method (pH value, nanoparticle amount, mixing and eluent type/volume) were optimized to boost the absorbance signal of antimony. Using the optimal parameters, the method provided satisfactory detection and quantification limits of 8.0 and 26.8 μg L−1, respectively. A 180 folds enrichment factor was achieved by the developed method when compared with the detection power of the FAAS. Linear range of the proposed method was found to be 30–250 μg L−1, with a coefficient of determination value of 0.9992. The established Zr-NPs-VA-LDSPE-SQT-FAAS method was successfully implemented to bergamot tea samples in order to check accuracy and applicability. The obtained recovery values ranged between 93–102%, and this demonstrated that the complex matrices tested did not affect the accuracy of quantifying antimony.