Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of Cu and Ni in tobacco samples after Preconcentration using ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate modified magnetic nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with SiO₂ and modified with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate as a new adsorbent for the single-step extraction and preconcentration of trace amounts of copper and nickel from tobacco samples were prepared. The particle sizes of nanoparticles were characterised by transmission electron microscope. Several parameters affecting the analytical performance, such as the amount of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, amount of magnetic nanoparticles, pH, contact time, coexisting ions, desorption solution and reuse times of magnetic solid-phase extraction, were discussed and optimised. The analytes desorbed from magnetic nanoparticles were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Under the optimum conditions, the analytical linear ranges were 0.02–15 mg/L for Cu and 0.02–20 mg/L for Ni (R² > 0.9992). The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 5) of 1.8% and 2.1% were obtained for Cu and Ni, respectively. The method detection limits were 0.0028 μg/g for Cu and 0.0037 μg/g for Ni. The proposed method was successfully applied to tobacco sample analysis and got excellent recoveries in the range of 89.6–102.3% and RSDs (n = 5) of 1.2–2.5%. This method is much faster and more effective than traditional methods, and it is promising for the analysis of heavy metals.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanoparticles
• heavy metals
• transmission electron microscope
• magnetic solid-phase extraction
• flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 21265025].