Pico level monitoring of silver with modified hexagonal mesoporous compound (MCM-41) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A rapid method for the extraction and monitoring of picogram level of silver ions using uniform silanized mesopor (MCM-41) modified by a thiocompound and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is presented. The preconcentration factor of the method is 500, and detection limit of the technique for silver is 6.5 pg/ml. The time and the efficiency of the extraction, pH and flow rate, type and minimum amount of acid for stripping of silver from modified MCM-41 was tested. The break through volume of the method was found 2500 ml. The maximum capacity the modified MCM-41 was found to be 11.0 +/- 1.2 mu g of Ag+/mg modified MCM-41.