A dispersive liquid--liquid microextraction methodology for copper (II) in environmental samples prior to...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Copper (Cu(II)) is an essential element, but its excess can be toxic.
• Accurate determination of copper in various samples is crucial for environmental and health monitoring.
• Existing methods for copper analysis can be complex or environmentally burdensome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly method for copper preconcentration and determination.
• To utilize dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).
• To establish a sensitive analytical technique for trace copper analysis.

Main Methods:

• Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was employed for copper separation and preconcentration.
• 2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (5-Br-PADAP) was used as a chelating agent to form a hydrophobic copper complex.
• Acetone and chloroform were utilized as disperser and extraction solvents, respectively.
• Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used for the final determination of copper.

Main Results:

• The method achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.4 microg/L and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 4.7 microg/L.
• A significant preconcentration factor of 120 was obtained.
• The relative standard deviation (RSD) was determined to be 6.5%, indicating good precision.
• The method demonstrated accuracy through standard addition/recovery tests and analysis of certified reference materials.

Conclusions:

• The developed DLLME-FAAS method is simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly for copper determination.
• The method offers high sensitivity and efficiency for preconcentrating trace amounts of Cu(II).
• The technique is suitable for the analysis of copper in real-world environmental samples.