Simultaneous preconcentrations of Co2+, Cr6+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ ions by Bacillus altitudinis immobilized nanodiamond prior to their determinations in food samples by ICP-OES

• B. altitudinis immobilized nanodiamond was used for preconcentration of Co2+, Cr6+, Hg2+ and Pb2+.
• The analytical parameters were optimized for quantitative recoveries of analytes.
• The method was validated through the analysis of certified reference materials.
• The method was applied to food samples to determine analyte concentrations.

A novel solid phase extraction method was developed for simultaneous preconcentration-separation of Co2+, Cr6+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ ions prior to their determinations in food samples by ICP-OES. Thermophilic Bacillus altitudinis immobilized nanodiamond was used as a new biosorbent. SEM and FT-IR analysis were studied to characterize the biosorbent. The optimum pH values of quantitative biosorption for Co2+, Cr6+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ were found to be 5.0, 6.0, 6.0 and 6.0, respectively. A flow rate of 3.0 mL min−1 was selected as optimum for all metal ions. 5 mL of 1 mol/L HCl was used as eluent. Preconcentration factor was achieved as 80. LODs were calculated as 0.071, 0.023, 0.016 and 0.034 ng mL−1, respectively for Hg2+, Co2+, Cr6+ and Pb2+. The biosorption capacities were calculated for Co2+, Cr6+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ as 26.4, 30.4, 19.5, and 35.2 mg/g, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to food samples to determine analyte concentrations.