Preconcentration and determination of heavy metals at ultra trace level by solid phase extraction on polymeric resin and atomic absorption spectrophotometer

Preconcentration and Determination of Heavy Metals at Ultra Trace Level by Solid Phase Extraction on Polymeric Resin and Atomic Absorption SpectrophotometerIn this study, determination of concentrations of trace elements such as Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu that are ppb levels in natural water samples was aimed. For this purpose, Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu in the samples were preconcentrated by using previously the synthesized crosslinked binding aminothiazole polymeric resin to the sulfonated polystyrene, without the necessary of complexing agent step. The parameters that can affect the recovery in preconcentration steps were examined. For these elements, it was observed that the optimum parameters are pH=3.5 for Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni, contact time=30 min and elution volume=2.5 ml. So, determination of Pb, Ni, Cd and Cu at ppb levels was achieved by the developed preconcentration method and the slotted tube atom trap-AAS.By applying the optimized preconcentration method to natural water, Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni concentrations were found to be (as ng ml-1) 5.2, 0.26, 12.2 and 4.1 for tap water of university lab. 2.2, 0.08, 3.6 and 2.5 for Keban Dam Lake, 2.0, 0.07, 14.4 and 13.5 for Hazar Lake for, 1.0, 0.06, 8.0 and 4.2 for tap water of Elazig and 2.3, 0.08, 4.1 and 2.6 for Karakaya Dam Lake. The allowed limit values in drinking water by The World Health Organization (WHO) and other national and international organizations were established for Pb, Cd and Ni as 20, 3.0 and 70 ng\mL, respectively, and for copper as 1.3 mg/L. The obsereved results in this stıudy are lower the permissible limits mentioned above.