Carbon nanotubes as a solid sorbent for the preconcentration of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb prior to wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The preconcentration of trace elements on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) followed by a wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (WDXRF) has been investigated. The proposed preconcentration procedure is based on the sorption of trace elements on MWCNTs dispersed in analyzed solution. After sorption, the MWCNTs with the metal ions were collected onto the filter, and then the preconcentrated elements were determined directly by WDXRF. The preconcentration method was optimized, and in consequence, in order to obtain satisfactory recoveries using 100 mL of samples, the sorption process was performed with 1mg of MWCNTs within 5 min. Some conditions of the preconcentration process such as the pH of analyte solution, amounts of MWCNTs, the volume of the sample, the contact time between analytes and MWCNTs (stirring time), and the effects of foreign metals are discussed in detail in the paper. Adsorption onto raw and oxidized MWCNTs was also studied. The proposed procedure allows obtaining the detection limits of 0.6, 0.6, 1.0, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.9 and 1.9 ng mL(-1) for Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The recoveries of determined elements were about 100%. Because the analytes are not eluted from the sorbent before WDXRF analysis, the risk of contamination and loss of analytes is reduced to minimum. Moreover, because the samples are analyzed as a thin layer, the matrix effects can be neglected. The proposed preconcentration method using MWCNTs coupled with WDXRF spectrometry was successfully applied to determine trace elements in natural water samples.