Solid Phase Extraction of Amount Cu(II) Using C18 Disks Modified Schiff Base-Chitosan Grafted Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

A novel and selective method for the fast determination of trace amounts of Cu(II) ions in water samples has been developed. The procedure is based on the selective formation of Cu(II) at optimum pH by elution with organic eluents and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method is based on complex formation on the surface of the ENVI-18 DISKTM disks modified Schiff base-chitosan grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (S-CS-MWCNTs) followed by stripping of the retained species by minimum amounts of appropriate organic solvents. The elution is efficient and quantitative. The effect of potential interfering ions, pH, S-CS-MWCNTs amount, stripping solvent, and sample flow rate were also investigated. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the break-through volume was found to be about 1000mL providing a preconcentration factor of 600. The maximum capacity of the disks was found to be 398±3 μg for Cu2+. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 5 ng per 1000 mL. The method was applied to the extraction and recovery of copper in different water samples.