Preconcentration of trace elements on a support impregnated with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

A procedure is developed for determination of As, Co, Se, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Sb, and Sn in water by ICP-AES analysis of alcohol eluates after pre-concentration of the samples. The pre-concentration is performed on a sodium diethyldithiocarbamate supported soft polyurethane foam. The sorbed elements are subsequently eluted with 1-propanol and the alcohol eluates are analysed by ICP-AES. A eight-fold concentration is achieved. An increased sensitivity in the analysis of propanol-water (30:70, v/v) solution is established as compared with aqueous solutions. The strongest effect is observed for As, Se, Pb, Cr, Sn, and Cd-increasing is more than twice. For other elements the matrix influence is by a factor of 1.45 (Cu), 1.36 (Sb), 2.08 (Zn). The method is applied to the analysis of natural water samples. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.