Nanometer-sized titanium dioxide micro-column on-line preconcentration of La, Y, Yb, Eu, Dy and their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A new method using a micro-column packed with nanometer sized TiO2 as a sorbent has been developed for the on-line preconcentration of trace amounts of rare earth elements (La, Y, Yb, Eu and Dy) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The effects of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions on the separation of analytes have been investigated. The adsorption capacity of nanometer TiO2 for La, Y, Yb, Eu and Dy was found to be 7.0, 6.1, 9.8, 8.3 and 8.8 mg g(-1), respectively. The method has been successfully applied for the determination of trace rare earth elements in some environmental samples.