Preconcentration of heavy metal ions from wastewater by solvent extraction using N,N '-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)-1,2 diaminopropane prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Toxic heavy metals such as copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), manganese(II), zinc(II), cobalt(II), and nickel(II) in wastewater can be preconcentrated in the organic phase containing a new reagent, N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)-1,2 diaminopropane (HBDAP), using a solvent extraction method. The metal ions loaded into the organic phase are stripped and preconcentrated using 10% HNO3 and 3% HCl. A simple and rapid method for extraction of heavy metals using HBDAP, and their subsequent determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using the standard addition method, is described. The method was applied to the samples of wastewater obtained from Balikesir, Turkiye for determination, separation, and recovery of heavy metal contents. It was found that the proposed method makes feasible the use of HBDAP as extracting reagent for the separation and the preconcentration of heavy metals prior to their determination by atomic absorption spectrometry.