Solid phase extraction of Pb(II) ions using bis(salicylaldimine) bonded polymer and determination by flame AAS

In this study, 2-[bis(2-salicylaldimine ethyl)amino]ethylamine bonded polymer was synthesized for the preconcentration of Pb(II) ions from natural water samples by solid phase extraction method. Structural characterization of the synthesized adsorbent was performed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The factors effecting the preconcentration of Pb(II) ions by column solid phase extraction, which are pH, flow rate and eluent concentration, were examined by using Box-Behnken design and the optimum preconcentration conditions were determined. The effect of the sample volume on the solid phase extraction of Pb(II) ions was examined under the optimum conditions. By using FAAS with the developed method, the detection and quantitation limits of Pb(II) ions were found as 0.3 μg/L and 0.8 μg/L, respectively. For the determination of Pb(II) level in the sample containing 0.4 mg/L Pb(II), the recovery of Pb(II) ions and relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be 99 % and 1 %, respectively. The experimental maximum adsorption capacity of the synthesized adsorbent for Pb(II) was calculated as 26.4 mg/g. The proposed preconcentration method was validated by its application to the certified reference material of Ontorio lake water (Canada TM-25.4). Pb(II) concentrations in tap water, sea water, mineral water and lake water samples were successfully determined by the developed method.