Magnetic nanobiosorbent (MG-Chi/Fe3O4) for dispersive solid-phase extraction of Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination

Trace amounts of Cu (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) in a wastewater sample were preconcentrated with a novel cross-linked magnetic chitosan modified with a new synthesised methionine-glutaraldehyde Schiff's base (MG-Chi/Fe3O4) as a dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) adsorbent. The adsorbed metal ions were then eluted with a specific volume of suitable solution and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the metal ions were investigated and optimised, including pH, amount of adsorbent, extraction time, type and volume rate of eluent, elution time, sample volume, and effect of interfering ions. The adsorption kinetics are more consistent with the pseudo-second order model. The results were statistically interpreted and the analytical performance of the proposed method was found to have preconcentration factors of 55, 60, and 50 mu g L-1 for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II), respectively, limits of detection were 0.22, 0.24, and 0.10 mu g L-1 for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II), respectively, with a relative standard deviation (1.5%-2.8 %), and the liner range was 5-1000 for Cu(II) and Pb(II) and 2.5-1000 for Cd(II). It was concluded that this method was suitable for successful simultaneous determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) in industrial wastewater samples.

Automated summary

A novel adsorbent MG-Chi/Fe3O4 was utilized to preconcentrate trace amounts of Cu (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) in wastewater samples, with subsequent determination using FAAS. The optimized method showed successful simultaneous determination of the three metal ions, with high preconcentration factors and low detection limits.