Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements in Seawater with Poly(acrylaminophosphonic dithiocarbamate) Chelating Fiber Prior to Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A new ion-exchange chelating fiber with aminophosphonic and dithiocarbamate groups based on polyacrylonitrile was developed for the preconcentration of rare earth elements (REEs) in seawater prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. REEs can be easily separated from the high-saline matrix using the fiber. The optimum experimental parameters such as pH, flow rate, sample volume, and effect of matrix ions for preconcentration of REEs were investigated. All REEs in water can be quantitatively retained in the acidity range of pH 3-6 by the fiber and then eluted quantitatively with 0.01 mol L -1 ammonium citrate. The fiber has been applied to the concentration of REEs in seawater. The relative standard deviations for the determination of REEs in seawater at nanogram per liter levels were found to be less than 5%. A reasonably good agreement is obtained with the data reported in the literature.

Removal of aqueous rare earth elements (REEs) using nano-iron based materials

“…These include coprecipitation [4], liquid-liquid extraction [5], solid-phase extraction [6], ion-exchange [7], adsorption [8], and biosorption [9].…”

ICP-AES Determination of Trace Rare Earth Elements in Environmental and Food Samples by On-line Separation and Preconcentration with Acetylacetone-modified Silica Gel Using Microcolumn

“…7,15,16 The use of online microcolumn separation and preconcentration expands the potential of the ICP-AES method for trace REEs analysis. Compared with traditional extraction technologies, it is simple, fast, inexpensive and less polluting to the environment and can easily be automated.…”

Improved immobilization of 8-hydroxyquinoline on polyacrylonitrile fiber and application of the material to the determination of trace metals in seawater by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

“…It should be pointed out that these interferences are usually related to the nature of the sample matrix and much can be done to minimize or even eliminate potential problems by careful sample preparation. It must be admitted that for simultaneous multi-element determination by ICP-MS in a complex matrix such as seawater separation and/or pre-concentration methods are the first choice [1,2,3].…”

“…In our previous work, poly(acrylaminophosphonic dithiocarbamate) chelating fiber was developed and used to preconcentrate trace elements from seawater [2,19]. The synthesis was, however, time-consuming -approximately four days.…”

“…It should be pointed out that these interferences are usually related to the nature of the sample matrix and much can be done to minimize or even eliminate potential problems by careful sample preparation. It must be admitted that for simultaneous multi-element determination by ICP-MS in a complex matrix such as seawater separation and/or pre-concentration methods are the first choice [1,2,3].8-Hydroxyquinoline is a well-characterized chelating organic ligand. It can form covalent compounds with over 60 metal ions under controlled pH conditions, and its preference for transition and heavy metals to alkali and alkaline-earth elements is well known [4].…”