Determination of heavy metal ions in environmental samples employing preconcentration on novel resins of polyurethane foam linked with o-Aminophenol or o-Hydroxyphenylazonaphthol

o-Aminophenol (AP) and its azo derivative with ss-Naphthol(Naph) is bonded to polyurethane foam (BPUF) and used as solid phase extractor of nickel, cadmium and zinc ions in aqueous solutions prior to their atomic absorption spectrometric determinations. The novel resins of polyurethane foam were characterised by density, elemental analysis, IR spectra and chemical stability. The parameters including pH, sample volume, matrix effects were investigated. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the combined method of sample treatment, preconcentration and determination with atomic absorption spectrometry is generally lower than 10%. The limit of detection was found between 0.06 and 0.22 mu g L-1. The procedure was used for determination of analyte ions in natural water samples, apple leaves and fish liver.