extraction of ultra trace amounts bismuth in water samples using cloud point extraction with 2-amino-cyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid

a new approach for a cloud point extraction-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method was used for determining bismuth. the aqueous analyte was acidified with sulfuric acid (ph 3.0–3.5). triton x-114 was added as a surfactant and 2-amino-cyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid was used as a complexing agent. after phase separation at 50 ◦ c based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant-rich phasen was diluted using tetrahydrofuran (thf). twenty microliters (20 μl) of the enriched solution and 10 µl of 0.1% (w/v) pd (no 3 ) 2 as chemical modifier were dispersed into the graphite tube and the analyte was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. after optimizing extraction conditions and instrumental parameters, a preconcentration factor of 195 was obtained for a sample of only 10 ml. the detection limit was 0.04 ng ml − 1 and the analytical curve was linear for the concentration range of 0.04–0.70 ng ml −1 . relative standard deviations were < 5%. the method was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of bismuth in water samples.