Zincon-immobilized silica-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles for solid-phase extraction and determination of trace lead in natural and drinking waters by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A new protocol using zincon-immobilized silica-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Zincon–Si–MNPs) as solid-phase extraction (SPE) medium has been developed for the separation and preconcentration of trace lead in water. Various parameters such as pH, extraction time, concentration and volume of eluent, sample volume, and influence of co-existing ions have been investigated in order to establish the optimum conditions for the determination of lead in combination with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The detection limit (LOD) of the proposed method for lead based on an enrichment factor of 200 was 10 ng L−1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 5) were 8.3%, 7.8% and 9.2%, respectively, at 5, 0.5 and 0.05 ng mL−1 levels. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of trace lead in natural and drinking water samples and the recoveries for the spiked samples were in the range of 84–104%.

► We synthesize a novel magnetic nanometer-sized SPE material Zincon–Si–MNPs.
► The adsorbent is characterized by IR, TEM and XRD.
► The new adsorbent shows high enrichment factor for lead in short analytical time.
► We propose a magnetic SPE method for the determination of trace lead in waters.
► The magnetic SPE procedure is very easy to operate.