Design of rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction of ultra-trace lead combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination

In this work, traditional cloud point extraction (CPE) pattern was changed and improved by the proposed rapidly synergistic CPE. Using octanol as cloud point revulsant and synergic reagent, non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) accomplished room temperature extraction rapidly without heating in water bath. The improved extraction was named as rapidly synergistic cloud point extraction (RS-CPE). Compared with traditional CPE, RS-CPE was accomplished in 1 min with considerably high extraction efficiency. The improved CPE pattern was coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for the extraction and detection of trace lead in real and certified water samples with satisfactory analytical results. The proposed method greatly improved the sensitivity of FAAS for the determination of lead. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for lead was 4.31 mu g/L, with enhancement factor (EF) of 39. Factors influencing RS-CPE efficiency, such as concentrations of surfactant TX-114 and octanol, concentration of chelating agent, pH, conditions of phase separation, environmental temperature, salt effect and instrumental conditions, were studied systematically. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.