Abstract:

A new method using microcrystalline anthracene as an adsorbent to separate and preconcentrate trace copper in environmental water samples has been developed. Effects of different parameters, such as the acidity, types of salt, amounts of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol(PAN) and anthracene, preconcentration time, etc. on the enrichment yield of Cu(Ⅱ) have been investigated. The results indicate that at pH=3.00, a red chelate complex generated by the reaction between Cu(Ⅱ) and PAN can be quantitatively adsorbed on the surface of microcrystalline anthracene, whereas Pb(Ⅱ), Mn(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ), Ni(Ⅱ), Cd(Ⅱ), Zn(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ), Al(Ⅲ) etc. completely remain in the solution. Therefore, the aim of separation and preconcentration of trace copper could be achieved. The possible reaction mechanism of the enrichment of copper is discussed in detail in this paper. The recovery is in the range of 91.0%~104.0% with the enrichment factor of 200. The limit of detection after preconcentration is 0.026 μg/L. The proposed method could be directly applied to the determination of trace copper in different environmental water samples of large volume(1 L) with satisfactory results.

Key words: Copper(II), microcrystalline anthracene, (pyridylazo)naphthol, Preconcentration and Separation