Preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of heavy metals in natural water samples using a C₁₈ cartridge and atomic absorption spectrometry

991-995A rapid and reliable sample preconcentration method has been developed to separate Ni2+, Bi 3+, Cd2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Co2+ (heavy metal ions) from natural water samples. The chelating agent sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDTC) and a Cl8 cartridge have been used for preconcentration. Extraction efficiency, influence of sample and eluent flow rates, pH, amount of SDDTC, nature and amount of eluent for elution of metal ions from cartridge, break through volume and the limit of detection have been evaluated. The effects of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions on percent recovery of heavy metal ions have also been studied. The limit of detection of the proposed method for Ni2+, Bi2+, Cd2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Co2+ are found to be 1.5, 5, 0.4,3,2.5, 0.6, 0.5  and 1 ppb, respectively. The method is applied to the recovery and determination of heavy metal ions in different water samples