Solid phase extraction of trace cadmium and lead in food samples using modified peanut shell prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Efficient removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution by a novel ion imprinted magnetic biosorbent: Adsorption kinetics and mechanisms

It is vital to understand the adsorption mechanisms and identify the adsorption kinetics when applying an adsorbent to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution. A Pb(II) imprinted magnetic biosorbent (Pb(II)-IMB) was developed for the removal of Pb²⁺ via lead ion imprinting technology and crosslinking reactions among chitosan (CTS), Serratia marcescens and Fe₃O₄. The effect of different parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent dosage, selectivity sorption and desorption were investigated on the absorption of lead ion by Pb(II)-IMB. The adsorbent was characterized by a Brunauer-Emmett Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The adsorption kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of Pb(II)-IMB for Pb(II) were studied. The results of the abovementioned analyses showed that the adsorption kinetic process fit well with the second-order equation. The adsorption isotherm process of Pb(II) on the Pb(II)-IMB was closely related to the Langmuir model. Thermodynamic studies suggested the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption of Pb(II) by Pb(II)-IMB. The adsorption mechanism of Pb(II)-IMB was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the nitrogen in the amino group and the oxygen in the hydroxyl group of Pb(II)-IMB were coordination atoms.

Preconcentration and extraction of lead ions in vegetable and water samples by N-doped carbon quantum dot conjugated with Fe3O4 as a green and facial adsorbent

Magnetically N-doped Carbon quantum dots has been synthesized via a simple chemical method and applied as a sorbent for the preconcentration and extraction of trace amounts of Pb²⁺ from water and vegetable samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer analysis and transmission electron microscopy. A central-composite design was used to find the optimum conditions for the preconcentration procedure through response surface methodology. The effects of various parameters such as the pH value, adsorption time, amount of adsorbent, desorption conditions (type, concentration and volume of the eluent and desorption time), sample volume and interfering ions have been studied. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.3-300μgL^-1 (R²=9992). The detection limit and pre-concentration factor were found to be 0.082μgL^-1 and 265, respectively.

Determination of total Sn in some canned beverages by FAAS after separation and preconcentration

A micelle-mediated preconcentration method has been developed for determination of trace amounts of tin in canned beverage samples, which is widely used in food industry for packing, but its utilization is limited due to its toxic properties. The method is selectively based on the cloud point extraction (CPE) of Sn(IV) with Gallocyanin (GC(+)) and glycine as chelating agents in the mixed surfactant media, Polyethylene glycol sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) and Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in Tris/HCl buffer, pH 8.5. The various variables affecting CPE efficiency were extensively optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the obtained calibration curve was highly linear in the range of 1-250 μg L(-1) for Sn(IV) with a good correlation coefficient of 0.9976. The detection limit of the method was 0.33 μg L(-1), and the relative standard deviations, RSDs, was in the range of 2.1-6.2% (25, 50 and 100 μg L(-1), N: 5). The matrix effect was also investigated. The method was successfully utilized for the determination of total Sn in some canned beverages by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). Its validity was controlled by the analysis of two certified reference materials. It has been observed that the results are in agreement with the certified values.

Restricted access carbon nanotubes for direct extraction of cadmium from human serum samples followed by atomic absorption spectrometry analysis

In this paper, we propose a new sorbent that is able to extract metal ions directly from untreated biological fluids, simultaneously excluding all proteins from these samples. The sorbent was obtained through the modification of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with an external bovine serum albumin (BSA) layer, resulting in restricted access carbon nanotubes (RACNTs). The BSA layer was fixed through the interconnection between the amine groups of the BSA using glutaraldehyde as cross-linker. When a protein sample is percolated through a cartridge containing RACNTs and the sample pH is higher than the isoelectric point of the proteins, both proteins from the sample and the BSA layer are negatively ionized. Thus, an electrostatic repulsion prevents the interaction between the proteins from the sample on the RACNTs surface. At the same time, metal ions are adsorbed in the CNTs (core) after their passage through the chains of proteins. The Cd(2+) ion was selected for a proof-of-principle case to test the suitability of the RACNTs due to its toxicological relevance. RACNTs were able to extract Cd(2+) and exclude almost 100% of the proteins from the human serum samples in an online solid-phase extraction system coupled with thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.24 and 0.80 μg L(-1), respectively. The sampling frequency was 8.6h(-1), and the intra- and inter-day precisions at the 0.80, 15.0, and 30.0 μg L(-1) Cd(2+) levels were all lower than 10.1% (RSD). The recoveries obtained for human blood serum samples fortified with Cd(2+) ranged from 85.0% to 112.0%. The method was successfully applied to analyze Cd(2+) directly from six human blood serum samples without any pretreatment, and the observed concentrations ranged from <LOQ to 2.52 µg L(-1).

Methylene crosslinked calix[6]arene hexacaarboxylic acid resin: a highly efficient solid phase extractant for decontamination of lead bearing effluents

Calixarene-based cation exchange resin has been developed by methylene crosslinking of calix[6]arene hexacarboxylic acid derivative and the resin has been exploited for solid phase extraction of some toxic heavy metal ions. The selectivity order of the resin towards some metal ions follows the order Pb(II) > Cu(II)> Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II). The maximum lead ion binding capacity of the resin was found to be 1.30 mmol g(-1) resin. The loaded lead was quantitatively eluted with dilute acid solution regenerating the resin. Mutual separation of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) was achieved by using the column packed with the resin.

Old and New Flavors of Flame (Furnace) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper presents some recent applications of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) to different matrices and samples. The time window selected was from 2006 up to March, 2011, and several aspects related to food, biological fluids, environmental, and technological samples analyses were reported and discussed. In addition, the chemometrics application for FAAS methods development was also taken into account, as well as the use of metal tube atomizers in air/acetylene flame. Preconcentration methods coupled to FAAS were discussed, and several approaches related to speciation, flotation, ionic liquids, among others were discussed. This paper can be interesting for researchers and FAAS users in order to see the state of the art of this technique.

Biosorption: a new rise for elemental solid phase extraction methods

Biosorption is a term that usually describes the removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution through their passive binding to a biomass. Bacteria, yeast, algae and fungi are microorganisms that have been immobilized and employed as sorbents in biosorption processes. The binding characteristics of microorganisms are attributed to functional groups on the surface providing some features to the biosorption process like selectivity, specificity and easy release. These characteristics turn the biosorption into an ideal process to be introduced in solid phase extraction systems for analytical approaches. This review encompasses the research carried out since 2000, focused on the employment of biosorption processes as an analytical tool to improve instrumental analysis. Since aminoacids and peptides as synthetic analogues of natural metallothioneins, proteins present in the cell wall of microorganisms, have been also immobilized on solid supports (controlled pore glass, carbon nanotubes, silica gel polyurethane foam, etc.) and introduced into solid phase extraction systems; a survey attending this issue will be developed as well in this review.

SDS-coated Sepabeads SP70-modified by 4-[(E)-3-phenylallylidene) amino] benzenethiol as new efficient solid phase for enrichment and determination of copper, nickel, chromium, and zinc ions in soil, plants, and mint water samples

A sensitive and simple method based on modification of Sepabeads SP70 by 4-((E)-3-phenylallylidene) amino) benzenethiol for the simultaneous preconcentration of trace amounts of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn) ions in some real samples has been reported. The metal ions which are retained as respective complexes on solid phase were eluted with 8 ml of 4 M nitric acid. The influences of different analytical parameters including pH, ligand amount and Sepabeads SP70 and SDS amount, eluting solutions, and sample volume on metal ions recoveries were investigated. The effects of matrix ions on the retentions of the analytes were also examined. The recoveries of analytes were generally >95% with RSD between 0.74 and 0.88. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of these metals in some real samples with complex matrices.

Determination of trace copper in food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after solid phase extraction on modified soybean hull

Soybean hull was chemically modified with citric acid and used as a solid phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of trace amounts of Cu(2+) in food samples by flame absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The effect of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution flow rate and volume and co-existing ions on the recovery of the analyte were investigated. The results showed that Cu(2+) could be adsorbed on the modified soybean hull at pH 8.0 and eluted by 2.0 mL of 1.0 mol L(-1) HCl. Under the optimized conditions, the adsorption capacity of modified soybean hull was found to be 18.0 mg g(-1) for Cu(2+). The detection limit of the proposed method was 0.8 ng mL(-1) for Cu(2+) with an enrichment factor of 18. The analytical result for the certified reference tea sample (GBW07605) was in a good agreement with the certified value. The proposed method has also been successfully applied to the determination of trace Cu(2+) in dried sweet potato, lake water and milk powder, the recovery of Cu(2+) for spiked samples was between 91% and 109.6%.

Biosorption of lead by filamentous fungal biomass-loaded TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study filamentous fungal biomass-loaded TiO(2) nanoparticles were used for the biosorption of lead(II) ions by flow-injection system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of pH, sample volume, loading and elution flow rates, eluent type and volume on the recovery of lead were investigated. Lead ions were sorbed on a biosorbent minicolumn at pH 4.0 followed by an elution step using 288 microL of 1.0 mol/L hydrochloric acid solution. The limit of detection was 0.78 microg/L. The validation of the described procedure was performed by the analysis of certified reference material (NRC-CNRC NASS-5 seawater). Finally, the presented biosorption procedure was applied to the determination of lead in tap water and seawater samples.