Determination of Gold in Various Environment Samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Using Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Sampling

A new dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction separation/preconcentration procedure as a rapid sample-preparation technique is proposed for detection of ultra trace amounts of Au(III) in various media by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using 1,5-diphenyl-1,3,5-pentanetrione as chelating agent. Carbon tetrachloride and methanol were used as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. Various parameters that affect the extraction efficiency such as pH, centrifugation rate and time, chelating agent concentration and sampling volume on the recovery of Au(III) were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the enhancement factor of 750, relative standard deviation of 2.7 % and calibration graphs obtained in the concentration range of 0.04–5.6 μg L−1 for gold were obtained. The limit of detection was 1.1 ng L−1. The accuracy of the method was performed by analysis of the certified reference material (CDN-PGMS-10). The developed method was applied successfully to the determination of gold in the catalytic converter, anode slime, ore and seawater samples. The results show that dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure is sensitive, rapid, simple and safe for the separation/preconcentration of gold from complex sample media.