Preconcentration with bacillus subtilis immobilized amberlite xad-16: determinations of cu2+ and ni2+ in river, soil, and vegetable samples

Abstract

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for the preconcentration of Cu and Ni before their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Bacillus subtilis– immobilized Amberlite XAD-16 was used as biosorbent. Effects of critical parameters such as pH, flow rate of samples, amount of Amberlite XAD-16 and biosorbent, sample volume, eluent type, and volume and concentration of eluent on column preconcentration of Cu and Ni were optimized. Applicability of the method was validated through the analysis of the certified reference tea sample (NCS ZC73014). Sensitivity of ICP-OES was improved by 36.4-fold for Cu2C and 38.0-fold for Ni2C by SPE-ICP-OES method. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) was found to be 0.7 and 1.1 ng/ml for Cu2C and Ni2C, respectively. Concentrations of Cu and Ni were determined by ICP-OES after application of developed method. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were lower than 4.9% for Cu and 7.9% for Ni. The Tigris River that irrigates a large agricultural part of Southeast Turkey is polluted by domestic and industrial wastes. Concentrations of Cu and Ni were determined in water, soil, and some edible vegetables as a biomonitor for heavy metal pollution.