On-line solid phase extraction system using 1,10-phenanthroline immobilized on surfactant coated alumina for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper and cadmium.

An on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) preconcentration system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) was developed for determination of copper and cadmium at microg L(-1) level. The method is based on the on-line retention of copper and cadmium on a microcolumn of alumina modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 1,10-phenanthroline and subsequent elution with ethanol and determination by FAAS. The effect of chemical and flow variables that could affect the performance of the system was investigated. The relative standard deviation (n=6) at 20 microg L(-1) level for copper and cadmium were 1.4 and 2.2% and the corresponding limits of detection (based on 3 sigma) were 0.04 and 0.14 microg L(-1), respectively. The method was successfully applied to determination of copper and cadmium in human hair and water samples.