Synthesis and characterization of Hg(II) and Cd(II) complexes derived from the novel acenaphthaquinone-4-phenyl thiosemicarbazone and its CPE application

•The acenaphthoquinone-4-phenyl thiosemicarbazone and its bimetallic Hg(II) and Cd(II) complexes have been synthesized.•The ACPTH utilized in CPE for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of Hg(II) and Cd(II) in aqueous medium.•The Hg(II) and Cd(II) preconcentration optimum conditions were 0.1% (w/v) Triton X-114 and 2 × 10−5 M ACPTH at pH 7.•The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of Hg(II) and Cd(II) in different water samples.

The new acenaphthaquinone-4-phenyl thiosemicarbazone (APTH) was synthesized. The reaction of Hg(II) and Cd(II) chloride with APTH yields bimetallic complexes, which are characterized by elemental, IR, UV-Vis., 1H-NMR and Mass spectroscopy. The APTH employed as a chelating agent for CPE procedure of trace amounts of mercury and cadmium from aqueous medium. The Hg(II) and Cd(II) is preconcentrated using 0.1% w/v Triton X-114 and 2 × 10−5 M APTH at pH 7. The calibration curve is linear in the ranges 0.25–3 and 0.25–7.5 ng/ml for Cd(II) and Hg(II), respectively. The proposed method was applied successfully in the determination of Hg(II) and Cd(II) in different water samples.