Species selective preconcentration and quantification of gold nanoparticles using cloud point extraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of metallic nanoparticles in environmental samples requires sample pretreatment that ideally combines pre-concentration and species selectivity. With cloud point extraction (CPE) using the surfactant Triton X-114 we present a simple and cost effective separation technique that meets both criteria. Effective separation of ionic gold species and Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) is achieved by using sodium thiosulphate as a complexing agent. The extraction efficiency for Au-NP ranged from 1.01 ± 0.06 (particle size 2 nm) to 0.52 ± 0.16 (particle size 150 nm). An enrichment factor of 80 and a low limit of detection of 5 ng L−1 is achieved using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) for quantification. TEM measurements showed that the particle size is not affected by the CPE process. Natural organic matter (NOM) is tolerated up to a concentration of 10 mg L−1. The precision of the method expressed as the standard deviation of 12 replicates at an Au-NP concentration of 100 ng L−1 is 9.5%. A relation between particle concentration and the extraction efficiency was not observed. Spiking experiments showed a recovery higher than 91% for environmental water samples.

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► We optimized cloud point extraction and ET-AAS parameters for Au-NPs measurement.
► A selective ligand (sodium thiosulphate) is introduced for species separation.
► A limit of detection of 5 ng Au-NP per L is achieved for aqueous samples.
► Measurement of samples with high natural organic mater content is possible.
► Real water samples including wastewater treatment plant effluent were analyzed.