Combination of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and multivariate optimization for separation-enrichment of traces lead by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

•A simple microextraction method for the preconcentration of lead was established.•The important variables were optimized.•Matrix effects are investigated.•The method was satisfactorily applied to preconcentration of some metals in real samples.

This work presents a method for the preconcentration of lead using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. 2,2′ Dithiobis (benzothiazole) was used as the chelating agent, and chloroform was selected as the extraction solvent. Parameters such as: pH, volume of ligand, volume of extraction solvent and dispersive solvent volume affecting on the extraction efficiency of method has been evaluated by Plackett–Burman design. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 4.3 μg L−1 and 14.2 μg L−1, respectively. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference materials. Method was applied to the determination of lead in water samples.

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