Enrichment-separation and determinations of cadmium(II) and lead(II)-1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5-thiol chelates on Diaion SP-207 by solid phase extraction-flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Silica Gel‐Immobilized 5‐aminoisophthalohydrazide: A novel sorbent for solid phase extraction of Cu, Zn and Pb from natural water samples

A novel silica sorbent, silica gel‐immobilized 5‐aminoisophthalohydrazide (SiO2‐APH), was prepared by the condensation of 3‐chloropropyl‐functionalized silica gel with 5‐aminoisophthalohydrazide (APH) derived from dimethyl 5‐aminoisophthalate as a starting material and used for separation and preconcentration of Cu, Zn, and Pb metals in water samples using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The characterization of the new sorbent was carried out by Elemental Analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Important analytical parameters including as pH, amount of sorbent, type and amount of eluting solvent, sample volume, vortex and ultrasonic bath time, matrix ions that effect the developed SiO2‐APH‐solid phase extraction (SPE) method were investigated and optimum parameters were detected. Recoveries of examined metals were obtained as 98% for Cu and Pb and 101% for Zn. The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 8) of Cu, Zn and Pb metals were 3.2, 2.8 and 1.6%, respectively. Limit of detections (LODs) (n = 10) were found as 2.7 μg L−1 for Cu, 7.4 μg L−1 for Zn and 3.5 μg L−1 for Pb μg L−1. The accuracy of the new method was assessed by analyzing of TMDA‐51.4 and TMDA‐70.2 certified reference materials. The results obtained for metals were in a good agreement with certified values. Addition/recovery test was applied to the real well, river, dam and stream water samples to check the accuracy of the method. The results showed that the developed SiO2‐APH‐SPE method can be effectively used as an alternative method for determination of Cu, Zn, and Pb metals in water samples.

Trace elements in blood samples of smoker and nonsmoker active pulmonary tuberculosis patients from Jamshoro, Pakistan

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a serious public threat throughout the world. PTB and smoking have a strong correlation. Malnutrition, poverty, addiction, overcrowding, illiteracy, unemployment, and poor hygienic conditions are the collective aspects for the disease progress. Pakistan is the fifth among 22 high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries and the fourth regarding multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The aim of study was to determine the concentration of essential and toxic elements from blood samples of smoker and nonsmoker PTB patients by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) followed by microwave acid digestion and compared with control subjects (n = 30). Eighty PTB patients were selected from different hospitals with age ranging 20-70 years. It was interpreted that the mean age among males and females was found to be 35.6 ± 1.4 and 33.5 ± 1.2, respectively, and the male patients were highly affected in contrast to females. Essential elements such as Mn, Fe, Zn, and Se were statistically found to be lower while Ca, Co, and Cu were found to be higher compared to the control group (p = 0.00). However, toxic elements like Al, Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb were statistically elevated in smokers than nonsmokers. Further research is needed to understand the degree of the impact of essential trace elements on treatment outcome (follow-up) followed by balanced healthy nutritional supplementation along with medical therapy, consequently improving the pulmonary tuberculosis outcome and survival as well.