Preconcentration with Bacillus subtilis-Immobilized Amberlite XAD-16: Determination of Cu2+ and Ni2+ in River, Soil, and Vegetable Samples

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for the preconcentration of Cu2+ and Ni2+ before their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Bacillus subtilis-immobilized Amberlite XAD-16 was used as biosorbent. Effects of critical parameters such as pH, flow rate of samples, amount of Amberlite XAD-16 and biosorbent, sample volume, eluent type, and volume and concentration of eluent on column preconcentration of Cu2+ and Ni2+ were optimized. Applicability of the method was validated through the analysis of the certified reference tea sample (NCS ZC73014). Sensitivity of ICP-OES was improved by 36.4-fold for Cu2+ and 38.0-fold for Ni2+ by SPE-ICP-OES method. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) was found to be 0.7 and 1.1ng/ml for Cu2+ and Ni2+, respectively. Concentrations of Cu2+ and Ni2+ were determined by ICP-OES after application of developed method. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were lower than 4.9% for Cu2+ and 7.9% for Ni2+. The Tigris River that irrigates a large agricultural part of Southeast Turkey is polluted by domestic and industrial wastes. Concentrations of Cu2+ and Ni2+ were determined in water, soil, and some edible vegetables as a biomonitor for heavy metal pollution.