A novel preconcentration procedure using cloud point extraction for determination of lead, cobalt and copper in water and food samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this work, a new cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure was developed for the separation and preconcentration of lead(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II) in various water and food samples. Complexes of metal ions with 1-Phenylthiosemicarbazide (1-PTSC) were extracted into the surfactant-rich phase of octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) from samples. After phase separation, the enriched analytes were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Factors affecting cloud point extraction, such as pH, reagent and surfactant concentrations, temperature, and incubation time were evaluated and optimized. The interference effect of some cations and anions was also studied. After optimization of the CPE conditions, the preconcentration factor of 25 and the limits of detection (L.O.D.) obtained for lead(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II) based on three sigma (n = 20) were 3.42, 1.00, and 0.67 μg L−1, respectively. The method presented precision (R.S.D.) between 1.7% and 4.8% (n = 7). The presented preconcentration procedure was applied to the determination of metal ions in reference standard materials (SRM 1515 Apple leaves and GBW 07605 Tea) and some real samples including tap water, spring water, sea water, canned fish, black tea, green tea, tomato sauce and honey.