A Sensitive Microextraction Method Using Effervescence Tablets to Disperse Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Cadmium Determination in Lake Water Samples

In this study, an effective and sensitive method was developed for the preconcentration of cadmium in flame atomic absorption spectrometer system combined with a 5-holes cut slotted quartz tube (SQT-FAAS). For this aim, a dispersive solid-phase microextraction method based on a magnetic effervescent tablet consisting of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (EA-MNP-dSPME) was proposed. In the developed microextraction method, the dispersion of the nanoparticles used as adsorbents was assisted by the effervescent tablets generated from a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate. In order to obtain the highest extraction and instrumental output, all variables that affect the efficiency was investigated comprehensively and optimum conditions were determined with univariate optimization steps. The detection power of the conventional FAAS system was enhanced about 135 folds with respect to the LOD value of the developed method (0.34 ng mL(-1)) obtained under the optimum conditions. The EA-MNP-dSPME method presented high reproducibility with a low %RSD value calculated as 8.1 %. In order to validate the accuracy and applicability of the method, matrix matching method based recovery studies were carried out using the lake water samples taken from Horseshoe Island. The percent recovery results reported between 99.9-104.3 % with percent relative standard deviation below 7.9 % indicated the developed method's applicability for the accurate and precise determination of cadmium.

Automated summary

A method based on dispersive solid-phase microextraction using magnetic effervescent tablets was developed for the preconcentration of cadmium in flame atomic absorption spectrometer systems. This method demonstrated high detection efficiency, reproducibility, and accuracy for the determination of cadmium content, showing potential for practical applications in environmental monitoring.