Evaluation of the APDC-MIBK Extraction Method for the Atomic Absorption Analysis of Trace Metals in River Water

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Abstract
The analytical performance of a chelation/extraction procedure for concentrating trace metals from natural water samples has been investigated. The metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), chelated with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, were concentrated by solvent extraction in methyl isobutyl ketone at a sample pH of 4; the organic phase was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Sensitivity of the method tested was adequate for surface waters and precision proved to be good. The chelates were found to be stable in the organic phase for at least ten days. In the two rivers studied, the recovery of spiked metals proved to be independent of sampling stations but slightly dependent on sampling dates; this latter dependence suggests the existence of weak matrix effects. No significant interferences from linear alkyl sulphonate (1 mg/l) or from humic acid (3mgC/l) were detected.