Preconcentration technique using activated carbon for determination of metals in fish

Abstract

A preconcentration procedure was developed for the determination of trace levels of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in aqueous solution. Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and activated carbon were used for preconcentration in SPE technique following by determination by AAS. This work consisted of the study of preconcentration of the metals on an activated carbon impregnated with APDC column and preconcentration of metallic complexes on an activated carbon column. The optimum conditions were investigated and tested with model solutions. The %recovery and %RSD achieved with the two methods were similar. The methods were applied for determination of the metals in a solution obtained from digestion of fish tissue. It was found that the preconcentration of metallic complexes on activated carbon column was more efficient. The influences of various parameters such as flow rate, amount of APDC and pH in preconcentration of metallic complexes in fish tissue onactivated carbon column were investigated. The present method was validated, and the good results were observed such as the %RSD were 4.53, 15.28, 0.64, 5.28, and 5.97%, the MDL were 11.70, 10.60, 13.40, 10.05, and 12.65 mg kg-1, and the %recovery was 97.42, 92.50, 81.70, 88.30, and 101.06% for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively.