[Nanometer-size titanium dioxide separation/preconcentration and ICP-AES for the determination of Cd, Co and Zn]

The adsorption behavior of Cd, Co and Zn on nanometer-size TiQ2 was investigated. At pH 9.0, Cd, Co and Zn were retained on the nanometer-size TiO2, then eluted with 0.1 mol x L(-1) HNO3 and determined by ICP-AES. The adsorption capacities of nanometer TiO2 were found to be 8.1, 6.9 and 15.1 mg x g(-1) for Cd, Co and Zn respectively. The detection limits (3sigma) for Cd, Co and Zn are 5.1, 3.4 and 2.9 ng x mL(-1) respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of trace Cd, Co and Zn in environmental samples with satisfactory results.