Application of carbon sorbents for the concentration and separation of metal ions

Solid-phase extraction is an attractive approach in the preparation of many kinds of samples prior to analysis; highly selective sorbents are desirable for this purpose. The objective of this review is to provide updated information about carbon-based sorbents, their interaction modes and potential application for the concentration and separation of metal ions from environmental samples prior to their determination. New selective phases such as fullerenes and carbon nanotubes are described. Selected examples illustrate the potential of these sorbents.