Preconcentration of Cadmium, Chromium, Copper and Lead in Drinking Water on the Polyacrylic Ester Resin, XAD-7

Abstract

The conditions (e.g. pH, resin, particle size, foreign ions) affecting the uptake of Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution by the SM-7 (also called XAD-7) resin, were studied. Based on these studies, a two-column method was developed to overcome the effect of complexation by humic substances. The method was successfully tested with the NBS multielement water standard, SRM 1643a, and was subsequently applied to enrich Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) in 15 drinking water samples from Hamilton, Ontario. The metals were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The results for the drinking water samples showed that leaching of copper and lead occurred from the distribution system.

Key Words:

• Preconcentration
• XAD-7 resin
• trace metals
• tap water
• determination
• graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.