Synthesis and application of a new functionalized resin for use in an on-line, solid phase extraction system for the determination of trace elements in waters and reference cereal materials by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

•Determination of trace metallic analyte concentrations in waters and cereals.•On-line, solid phase extraction system.•Preconcentration and determination of trace elements using FAAS.•A new Amberlite XAD-4 functionalized with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxaldehyde resin.

The synthesis and characterization of the resin Amberlite XAD-4 functionalized with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxaldehyde and its application in an on-line system for the preconcentration of cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and manganese prior to determination using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Metal ions retained on the modified resin were eluted using 1.0 mol L−1 HNO3 solution and aspirated directly to the nebulizer–burner system of a FAAS instrument using a flow injection system. Detection limits (3σ) were determined to be 0.13 μg L−1 for Cd, 0.29 μg L−1 for Cu, 0.23 μg L−1 for Mn, 0.58 μg L−1 for Co and 2.19 μg L−1 for Pb using a 10 mL of water sample loading volume. The limits of detection would be 100 times higher with units of μg kg−1 for the solid samples in which their dilution ratios as (volume/weight) were 100. Enrichment factors ranged from 23.6 to 28.9 (for Co and Mn, respectively). The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of the analytes in natural water samples and certified reference materials.