Liquid-liquid microextraction based on a dispersion of Pd nanoparticles combined with ETAAS for sensitive Hg determination in water samples

MARTINIS, E.M.; ESCUDERO, L.B.; SALVAREZZA, R.C; CALDERÓN, M. F.; IBAÑEZ, F.J.; WUILLOUD, R.G.

TALANTA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2013 vol. 108 p. 46 - 52

0039-9140

A novel and highly efficient microextraction methodology based on the use of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) was developed for the preconcentration and determination of Hg in water samples. The analyte was selectively separated by employing dodecanethiolate-coated Pd monolayer-protected clusters (C12S Pd MPCs) implemented in a liquid-liquid microextraction technique (LLME). A volume of 20 µL of toluene containing the NPs (C12S Pd MPCs) was used. Hg detection was performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Different variables of the method, such as sample volume, extraction time and NP dispersion volume were carefully applied and studied. The analytical sensitivity was enhanced by a factor of 95. A low detection limit (7.5 ng L-1) and good precision (relative standard deviation of 4.1% at 0.25 mg L-1 Hg and n = 10) were achieved. Experimental results demonstrated that is a rapid, cost-effective, and efficient method for Hg determination in water samples obtained from various sources such as river, lake, mineral and tap water.