Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction of Silver Prior to Determination by Microsample Introduction-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

A new simple and sensitive method has been proposed for rapid determination of trace levels of silver in environmental water samples, using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) prior to its microsample introduction-flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range was 0.1–7 µg L⁻¹ and limit of detection was 0.018 µg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation for 0.50 and 5.00 µg L⁻¹ of silver in water sample was 4.0 and 1.7%, respectively. The relative recoveries of silver from tap, well, river, and seawater samples at spiking levels of 1.00 and 5.00 µg L⁻¹ were in the range of 86.4–98.6%.

Keywords:

• Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction
• flame atomic absorption spectrometry
• microsample introduction
• silver
• water analysis

The authors thank the Research Council of Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), for the financial support.

Notes

^a Calculated as the ratio of slope of preconcentrated samples to that obtained without preconcentration.

^a Standard deviation (n = 3).

^b From drinking water system of Tehran, Iran.

^c From Tehran.

^d Tajan river water, North of Iran.

^e Caspian seawater, Iran.

^f Not detected.

^a Limit of detection.

^b Relative standard deviation.

^c LOD for 150 mL sample volume.