Application of 1,10-phenanthroline for preconcentration of selected heavy metals on silica gel

The complexing agent 1,10-phenanthroline was adsorbed on silica gel particles and used to separate and preconcentrate Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) ions. Both the static and the dynamic methods were employed. The effects of pH, amount of silica gel, stirring time and sample volume were optimized, and the limits of detection, linear ranges and preconcentration factors were determined. The recovery of the metals ranges from 59 to 92 in the case of the static method, but it is much better (99 to 101) in the case of the dynamic method. The limits of detection (LOD) of the ICP-OES method are 5.8, 29.8, 6.7, 24.6, 10.8, and 7.12 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The methods were elaborated for the group concentration and determination of various metals in reference and plant materials.