Separation and microcolumn preconcentration of traces of rare earth elements on nanoscale TiO₂ and their determination in geological samples by ICP‐AES

Abstract

A simple, rapid microcolumn preconcentration and separation technique is described for the determination of the trace rare earth elements Sm, Tm, Ho, and Nd in geological samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The technique was based on adsorption of analytes on Nanometer-Size Titanium Dioxide (NSTD) packed in a microcolumn and separation from the matrix at pH = 7.0. Quantitative adsorption of more than 94% of analytes was obtained in this work. The dynamic adsorption capacities of NSTD were found to be 14.59, 12.86, 14.38, and 15.58 mg g -1 for Tm, Sm, Ho, and Nd, respectively. The analytes were recovered quantitatively from NSTD with 2.0 mol L -1 HCl. The analytical procedure was optimized in terms of sample acidity, elution, flow rate of sampling, and sample volume. At a flow rate of 1.0 mL min -1 , the detection limits (3r) of the technique for Tm, Sm, Ho, and Nd with an enrichment factor of 50 were 0.06, 0.18, 0.08, and 0.1 ng mL -1, and the RSD were 1.8%, 4.7%, 2.0%, and 1.6%, respectively .

A review on applications of nanoparticles for the preconcentration of environmental pollutants

“…As a result, they have become ubiquitous throughout industry, wastewater treatment facilities and even in households for purification of drinking water. [65][66][67][68][69][70] Scientists have developed robust filters composed entirely of multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the removal of benzene and ferrocene. [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81] These filters, shaped like hollow cylinders, are easy to clean and reusable.…”

“…116b The adsorption behaviour of toxic metal ions like Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Mo(VI) and rare earth elements on TiO 2 nanoparticles has been reported in environmental samples. [117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124] The adsorption properties of many oxides strongly depend on the characteristics of solids e.g. morphology, crystal structure, defects, specific surface area, hydroxyl coverage, surface impurities and modifiers and these factors can be controlled by using appropriate modification methods.…”

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

“…Many adsorption materials, such as titania, 7,17 alumina, 18 chelating resins, 19 C18-bonded silica gel 20 and modified silica gel 21,22 have already been explored for separation and preconcentration of trace elements.…”

Nanoparticles for Trace Analysis of Toxins: Present and Future Scenario

“…McMurray et al [24] studied the photocatalytic decomposition of this herbicide by TiO 2 fi lms in industrial water. TiO 2 had also been used for the preconcentration of metal ion such as Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Se, Ho, Au, Nd, Tm, La, Y, Tb, Eu, Dy from various environmental samples such as wastewater, sediments, coal ash, vehicle exhaust particulates and geological samples; and also physical modifi cation with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN), dithizone and 8-hydroxyquinolone used for the separation and extraction of Cr,Cu, Pb, Zn,Fe, Al, Y, Yb from natural, waste and environmental water samples, biological samples and also in food samples [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. Adsorption of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni to titanium dioxide nanoparticles was studied by Engates et al [25].…”