Immobilized stearic acid as a new sorbent for on-line preconcentration and determination of lead by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The present study examines the possibility of immobilization of stearic acid on microcrystalline naphthalene for preparation of microcolumn and evaluation of its potential for adsorption and preconcentration of trace amounts of metal ions. It was found that this sorbent has high affinity for lead. Consequently, a rapid on-line preconcentration technique for the determination of lead by Flow Injection Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry had been devised. Preconcentration was based on accumulation of analyte on immobilized stearic acid microcolumn and subsequent elution by injection of a small volume of nitric acid (250 µL of 1 mol L-1). A sample volume of 20 mL resulted in a preconcentration factor of 84, and relative standard deviations for solutions containing 40 and 200 µg L-1 were 5.1 and 1.2%, respectively. The procedure was applied to tap water, river water, sea water, apple juice, beet leaf, urine, and certified stainless steel. The accuracy was proved by performing recovery experiments, Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry measurements, and analysis of a stainless steel certified reference material.