Silica gel surface-imprinted solid-phase extraction of Zr(IV) from aqueous solutions

A surface imprinted amino-functionalized silica gel material was synthesized by combining a surface molecular imprinting technology for the solid-phase extraction of Zr(IV) in aqueous solutions prior to the measurement by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The ion-imprinted sorbent had higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for Zr(IV). The maximum static adsorption capacity of the ion-imprinted and non-imprinted sorbent for Zr(IV) was 11 mg g(-1) and 0.3 mg g(-1), respectively. The relatively selective factor values of Zr(IV)/Ti(IV), Zr(IV)/Y(III) and Zr(IV)/Nb(V) were 32, 34 and 50, which were greater than 1. The distribution ratio values of Zr(IV)-imprinted polymers for Zr(IV) were greatly larger than that for Ti(IV), Y(III) and Nb(V). The detection limit was 0.14 ng mL(-1). The relative standard deviation of the method was 1.49% for eight replicate determinations. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace zirconium in some alloys and in tape and waste water samples.