A simple and rapid in situ preconcentration method using solid-phase extraction for the determination of dissolved manganese in brackish lake water samples.

A simple and rapid in situ preconcentration method for the determination of dissolved manganese in environmental waters has been developed based on solid-phase extraction using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Manganese in water samples, which was taken into a graduated syringe to easily perform the operation for collecting manganese at sampling sites, was converted into a stable complex with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) at pH 10 immediately after sample collection. The formed Mn-PAR complex was collected by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, which was packed with C18-bonded silica. The complex was stable in the Sep-Pak C18 cartridge for at least one month. The retained complex was quantitatively eluted with 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. The manganese was determined by graphite-furnace AAS. The proposed method was successfully applicable to brackish lake water samples to investigate the behavior of dissolved manganese in brackish lakes.