Determination of lead in water resources by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after pre-concentration with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate immobilized on surfactant-coated alumina

Abstract

A rapid, simple, and sensitive procedure based on modified solid phase extraction was developed for the pre-concentration and determination of trace amount of lead in water resources. Lead was reacted with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) to make a complex. The complex was then collected in a column packed with surfactant-coated alumina. The parameters affecting the collection efficiency and desorption rate of the lead complexes from the column were investigated and optimized. The collection efficiency of the lead complex on the adsorbent was excellent under the optimized conditions. The results obtained from the recovery test showed the capability and reliability of the method for the analysis of trace amounts of lead. The proposed pre-concentration procedure made it possible to apply conventional flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for the sensitive determination of trace amounts of lead in water resources.