Concentration of trace metals from sea-water by complexation with 8-hydroxyquinoline and adsorption on C(18)-bonded silica gel.

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic technique based on a combination of multielement chelation by 8-hydroxyquinoline with subsequent adsorption on C(18)-bonded silica gel is described for the concentration of Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn and Fe from sea-water. Enrichment factors of 50-100 are readily obtained following elution of the absorbate with methanol to provide a matrix-free concentrate suitable for graphite-furnace atomic-absorption analysis. Quantitative recovery of these elements from near-shore samples of sea-water is demonstrated and the accuracy and precision of the technique are discussed.