Combination of flotation and flame atomic absorption spectrometry for determination, preconcentration and separation of trace amounts of metal ions in biological samples

Abstract

An efficient enrichment procedure based on the combination of flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and flotation for determination of Cd2+, Ag+ and Zn2+ ions in various biological samples using new collector is studied. The influence of pH, amount of 2-(((1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (HBIMMHBI) as collector, sample matrix, type and amount of eluting agent, type and amount of surfactant as floating agent, ionic strength and air flow rates on the extraction efficiency were evaluated and optimized. It is ascertained that under study metal ions is preconcentrated simultaneously from matrix in the presence of 0.005 M HBIMMHBI, 0.085% (w/v) of SDS form 750 mL at pH 6.5. The floated complexes metal ions eluted quantitatively with 6 mL of 1.0 M HNO3 in methanol lead to achieve preconcentration factor of 125. The detection limits for analyte ions were in the range of 1.3–2.4 ng mL-1, with recoveries more than 95% and relative SD lower than 4%.