Nickel hydroxide nanoflower-based dispersive solid-phase extraction of copper from water matrix

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate determination of trace copper in water is crucial for environmental monitoring and public health.
• Conventional analytical methods often lack sufficient sensitivity for detecting low copper concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) method for copper ion preconcentration.
• To enhance the sensitivity of copper determination using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of nickel hydroxide nanoflowers (Ni(OH)2-NFs) via homogeneous precipitation.
• Application of Ni(OH)2-NFs-DSPE for copper separation and preconcentration from tap water.
• Characterization of the sorbent using XRD, SEM, and FT-IR.
• Optimization of experimental parameters for maximum efficiency.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high enhancement factor of 107.5-fold for copper detection sensitivity.
• Determined low limits of detection (LOD) of 1.33 μg/L and quantification (LOQ) of 4.42 μg/L.
• Established a linear range of 3.0-40 μg/L for copper determination.
• Obtained satisfactory recoveries (94-103%) in spiked tap water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ni(OH)2-NFs-DSPE method is a simple, efficient, and rapid approach for trace copper determination.
• The method demonstrates high accuracy and feasibility for analyzing real water samples.
• This technique offers a significant improvement in sensitivity for copper analysis in environmental water.