Lead ultra-trace on-line preconcentration and determination using selective solid phase extraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: applications in seawaters and biological samples

In this work, a new chelating resin [1,5-bis (2-pyridyl)-3-sulphophenyl methylene] thiocarbonohydrazide immobilised on aminopropyl-controlled pore glass (550 Å; PSTH-cpg) was synthesised and packed in a microcolumn which replaced the sample tip of the autosampler arm. The system was applied to the preconcentration of lead. When microliters of 10% HNO₃, which acts as elution agent, pass through the microcolumn, the preconcentrated Pb(II) is eluted and directly deposited in a tungsten-rhodium coated graphite tube. With the use of the separation and preconcentration step and the permanent modifiers, the analytical characteristics of the technique were improved. The proposed method has a linear calibration range from 0.012 to 10 ng ml-¹ of lead. At a sample frequency of 36 h-¹ with a 90 s preconcentration time, the enrichment factor was 20.5, the detection and determination limits were 0.012 and 0.14 ng ml-¹, respectively and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was 3.2% (at 1 ng ml-¹). Results from the determination of Pb in biological certified reference materials were in agreement with the certified values. Seawaters and other biological samples were analysed too. [graphic removed]