Magnetic graphene oxide functionalized dimercaptosuccinic acid/putrescine as a selective and stable solid-phase extraction adsorbent for preconcentration and speciation of arsenic (III) in water samples

It is challenging for environmental scientists to identify the trace value of arsenite (As(III)) as an essential hazardous material in the presence of arsenate (As(V)) and other metal ions. This paper proposes a method of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) for the trace analysis of As(III) using magnetite graphene oxide (MGO) covalently functionalised with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and putrescine (PUT). The hydrothermally synthesised MGO/DMSA-PUT adsorbent was carefully characterised by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential analyser, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques in detail. Maximum adsorption capacity of MGO/DMSA-PUT for As(III) was determined 144 mg g−1 which considerably improved vs. graphene oxide with the adsorption capacity of 54.8 mg g−1. Sample pH of 6 with a volume of 50 mL, contact time of 5 minutes, initial concentration of 50 μg L−1, adsorbent dosage of 0.1 g and volume of eluent 3 mL were obtained as the optimised parameters for the developed MSPE procedure. According to experimental data obtained with hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy, the linear range and detection limit of the proposed method for As(III) measurement was found to be 0.4–5000 µg L−1 and 9.914 ng L−1, respectively. According to experimental results, a preconcentration limit (PL) of 1.72 µg L−1 was achieved for As(III), corresponding to a preconcentration factor of 965. Statistical analysis of standard reference materials confirmed the accuracy of the method against systematic and constant errors (>95% recovery with <5% RSD). Because of the selectivity of MGO/DMSA-PUT towards the As(III), the developed MSPE procedure is capable for successful speciation and determination of As(III) in water samples with satisfactory analytical results.