Separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of lead from water samples using solvent-assisted dispersive solid phase extraction

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach for the preconcentration of lead (Pb2+) by solvent-assisted dispersive solid phase extraction (SADSPE) prior to analyzing by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In this method, the dispersion of the sorbent was achieved by injecting a solution of the sorbent into the aqueous sample. Thereby, a cloudy solution formed. The cloudy state resulted from the dispersion of the fine particles of the sorbent in the bulk aqueous sample. Pb ions reacted with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthole (PAN) as chelating agent to form a hydrophobic complex. After extraction, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and as a result, the enriched analyte in this demented phase could be determined by FAAS. Some parameters that influenced solvent-assisted dispersive solid phase extraction and subsequent determination were evaluated in detail. Under optimized conditions (pH 9, PAN concentration: 1.0 × 10-3 mol L-1, sorbent: 0.1% m/v 1,4-dichlorobenzene, disperser solvent: 0.5 mL ethanol), a preconcentration factor of 50 could be obtained, and the limit of detection (LOD) for lead was 1.3 μg L-1. Relative standard deviation for ten replicate determinations of the standard solution containing 20 μg L-1 lead was 5.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of lead in water samples with satisfactory results.