Spectrophotometric determination of lead after preconcentration of its diphenylthiocarbazone complex on an Amberlite XAD-1180 column

A simple methodology has been developed for the solid phase extraction of lead based on the adsorption of its diphenylthiocarbazone complex on an Amberlite XAD-1180 column. The effect of various parameters such as eluting agents, stability of the column, sample volume, interfering ions, etc. were studied in detail. The adsorbed complex could be eluted using acetone and the concentration of lead was determined using visible spectrophotometry at a wavelength maximum of 486 nm. A detection limit of 3.5 μg L−1 could be achieved and the validity of the proposed method was checked in spiked tap water, well water and industrial wastewater samples. The relative standard deviation of the method was found to be 3.0%. The highest preconcentration factor attainable for quantitative recovery (>95%) of lead was 25 for a 250 mL sample volume.