Cloud point extraction-preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of low levels of zinc in water and blood serum samples

Abstract

A simple, sensitive and selective flotation method is described for the preconcentration and atomic absorption spectrometric determination of zinc ion in water and blood samples. At a solution pH of 5.2, 4-(2-pyridylazo-resorcinol) and Triton X-114 were used as hydrophobic ligand and non-ionic surfactant, respectively. The chemical variables affecting the preconcentration process were optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the selective preconcentration and determination of as low zinc concentration as 6.5 μg L-1 can be made. The proposed method was successfully applied to the preconcentration and low-level determination of zinc in different water and blood serum samples. © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.