Method development for online preconcentration of Cu (II) based on flow injection system by atomic absorption spectrometer

In this study, developed a new method for preconcentration of copper (II) ions prior to their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations has been investigated. A procedure for the preconcentration of copper (II) ions from some water samples using a column filled with silica gel (SG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been presented in this work. Adsorption is achieved quantitatively on SG and MWNTs at pH 4.0 and pH 5.0, then metal retained on the column were quantitatively eluted with 0.1 M EDTA and HNO3. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry is used for the determinations. For optimization of the method, the effects of some analytical parameters including pH of the solution, eluent type, sample volume, flow rates of solution and eluent, matrix ions etc. were investigated. The detection limit for copper (II) was found as 2 ?g/L and 1 ?g/L. The method was applied to the determination of copper in natural water samples and reproducible results were obtained. The accuracy of the method was examined by the analysis of standard reference material. Characterizations of the beads were done by SEM and TGA analysis. Keywords: Preconcentration, Flow Injection Analysis, Copper, Chitosan, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.