Determination of some trace metals in environmental samples by flame AAS following solid phase extraction with amberlite XAD-2000 resin after complexing with 8-hydroxyquinoline

A procedure for preconcentration of Mn(H), Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II) based on retention of their complexes with 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) on Amberlite XAD-2000 resin in a column was proposed for the analysis of environmental samples by flame AAS. Various parameters such as pH, eluent type, volume, concentration, flow rate and volume of sample solution, and matrix interference effect on the retention of the metal ions were investigated. The optimum pHs for the retention of metal complexes in question were about 6 except for Mn2+ for whose value is 8. The loading capacity of the adsorbent for these metals and their recoveries from the resin under the optimum conditions were in the range 6.82-9.26 mg.g(-1) and 95%-101%, respectively. The enrichment factor was calculated as 100 and the limit of detection was in the range 0.3-2.2 mu g.L-1 (n=20, blank + 3s). The proposed enrichment method was applied to tap water, stream water and vegetable samples. The validation of the procedure was carried out by analysis of certified reference material and standard addition. The analytes were determined with a relative standard deviation lower than 6% in all samples.