Simultaneous Complexation and Microextraction Using Verbenone Hydrazone as the Ligand with Slotted Quartz Tube-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) for the Sensitive Determination of Copper

Abstract

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of copper in air conditioner effluent at trace levels by slotted quartz tube - flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Verbenone hydrazone was used as a new ligand for the complexation process. Dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction were used for preconcentration. For this purpose, verbenone hydrazone used as complexing agent was dissolved in the extraction solvent (chloroform) and mixed with the dispersive solvent (ethanol). The mixture was injected into the tube containing the standard/sample solution and buffer for the simultaneous extraction and complexation of the analyte. Optimization studies included the type and volume of buffer solution, the type and volume of dispersive solvent, the volume of the ligand solution, the mixing type and period, and the volume of nitric acid. After the optimization studies, a 2.2, 19.7 and 50-fold enhancement in detection power were obtained for slotted quartz tube - flame atomic absorption spectrometry, dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction - flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction-slotted quartz tube - flame atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The limit of detection, limit of quantitation, and relative standard deviation of the dispersive assisted simultaneous complexation and extraction-slotted quartz tube-flame atomic absorption spectrometry system were 6.0 mu g/L, 20.0 mu g/L and 10.4% for the lowest concentration, respectively. The developed system was applied to air conditioner effluent samples with high recoveries between 96.8 and 122.6%.