Preconcentration and separation of Hg(II) by modified cloud point extraction in gallstone patients

In the present study, a new ultrasonically modified cloud point extraction method(um-CPE) has been developed using the dispersion of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles for pre-concentration and measurement of mercury. Diphenylthiocarbazon (DTC) was used as the complexing mercury ligand, and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles facilitate the separating and transferring of complex to the surfactant-rich phase. Response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) were studied to accelerate the process of achieving optimal extraction conditions. The optimal conditions for removing mercury by the above method were obtained as pH: 9.01, Temp.: 71.86 degrees C, ultrasonic time: 20.47 min, Surfactant: 8.26 v/v%, and CoFe2O4 dosage: 4.28 mg. Under optimal conditions, the calibration cave was linear in the range from 0.01 to 200 mg. L-1 and the detection limit of the method was 0.004 mg.L-1. One of the most common places where mercury can bioaccumulate is in gallstones. The proposed method was considered to be a promising method for solid-phase extraction and pre-concentration of mercury in serum and different gallstones.

Automated summary

In this study, a new ultrasonically modified cloud point extraction method (um-CPE) was developed using CoFe2O4 nanoparticles for pre-concentration and measurement of mercury. Diphenylthiocarbazon (DTC) was used as the ligand for mercury complexation. The optimal extraction conditions were determined using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design. The proposed method showed promising results for solid-phase extraction and pre-concentration of mercury in serum and gallstones.