Optimization of Flow Injection On-Line Microcolumn Preconcentration of Ultratrace Elements in Environmental Samples prior to Their Spectrochemical Determination

The preconcentration of some elements such as Cd, Co, Ni, and V(IV) was modeled in the presence of complexing agents such as citrate and oxalate at high Ca, Mg, and sulfate concentrations on iminodiacetic acid/ethyl cellulose (IDAEC), a chelating cellulose. The effect of the species present in the solution was studied after construction of the species distribution curves using critical, estimated, and measured stability constants. The stability constants of the IDAEC chelates were determined potentiometrically. The constants were calculated or estimated using computer programs. The diagrams calculated in homogeneous media were used for optimization of the flow injection on-line preconcentration for analysis of ultratrace metals in the highly mineralized water “Hunyadi.”