On-line separation and preconcentration of trace metals in biological samples using a microcolumn loaded with PAN-modified nanometer-sized titanium dioxide, and their determination by ICP-AES

A flow injection analysis system incorporating a microcolumn of nanometer-sized TiO2 loaded with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) has been used for the development of an on-line multi-element method for simultaneous separation and preconcentration and subsequent determination of Cu2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Y3+, Yb3+ and Bi3+ by ICP-AES. Effects of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution conditions, adsorption capacity and interfering ions on analyte recovery were examined. The adsorption capacity of nanometer-sized TiO2 loaded with PAN was 4.73, 18.57, 3.81, 6.14, 4.52 and 20.35 mg g(-1) for Cu2+, Cr3+, Y3+, Yb3+, Co2+ and Bi3+, respectively. The method has been applied to the analysis of trace elements in standard reference biological samples, and the results are in good agreement with the certified values.