Separation and preconcentration of trace heavy metal ions with nanometer-size titanium dioxide (anatase) and determination by fluorination assisted ETV-ICP-AES with slurry sampling

The adsorption and vaporization of Cu2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ on nanometer-size titanium dioxide (NSTD) was investigated. The optimized temperature and time of ashing and vaporizing, the most suitable pH, the concentration factors, adsorption isotherms, and static adsorption capacities of the ions on NSTD are obtained. The ions adsorbed on NSTD can be on-site directly determined with fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (FETV-ICP-AES) without elution through slurry sampling. The limits of detection of Cu2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ are 0.08, 0.11, 0.24, and 0.32 ng, while the RSDs are 1.8, 2.6, 2.9, and 3.3%, respectively. The results are in agreement with those of reference samples.