Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 18, 2026

Fabrication of a Dipole-assisted Solid Phase Extraction Microchip for Trace Metal Analysis in Water Samples
Published on: August 7, 2016
On-line microextraction of metal traces for subsequent determination by plasma atomic emission spectrometry using pH
E Kitazume1, T Higashiyama, N Sato
1Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Iwate University, Japan. SGB01551@nifty.ne.jp
Abstract:
Metal ions were highly efficiently enriched by pH peak focusing high-speed countercurrent chromatography. The peak intensity for a 10-mL standard sample in the effluent stream was increased over 100-fold compared to conventional plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Ca, Cd, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, and Zn are chromatographically extracted in a basic organic stationary phase containing a complex-forming reagent such as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid. After the sample solution is introduced into the column, metal ions remain around the sharp pH border formed between acidic and basic zones, moving toward the column outlet. Enriched metal ions are finally eluted with the sharp pH border as a highly concentrated peak into a volume of less than 100 microL. We evaluated this method for concentration efficiency in trace determination in tap water using different column diameters.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
Gas Chromatography: Types of Detectors-II
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Types of Detectors

