Preconcentration of Sn in Real Water Samples by Solid Phase Extraction Based on the Use of Helvella leucopus as a Fungal Biomass Prior to its Determination by ICP-OES

Abstract

Recently, biosorbents of biological origin such as fungus, algae, and bacteria have found special application as packing material in solid phase extraction (SPE). In this study, an alternative SPE method was developed and validated for the preconcentration of Sn prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Helvella leucopus, a fungal biomass, was used as the biosorbent in the column studies. Experimental parameters, such as pH and flow rate of the solution, amounts of biosorbent and resin, and volume of the sample solution which affects the analytical results, were investigated. Effects of possible interfering ions on the SPE preconcentration of Sn were investigated. The sensitivity of ICP-OES was improved 47.1 times for Sn. The LOD and LOQ values were 0.06 and 0.21 ng respectively. Linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 1.0-30 ng mL(-1) for Sn. The loading capacity of Helvella leucopus immobilized Amberlite XAD-4 was 10.4 mg g(-1). The concentrations of Sn in the water samples from the Tigris River were determined using the developed method and validated by analysis of the certified reference material NWTM-26.3 Fortified Water sample.