title: Comparison of chelating agents immobilized on glass with chelex 100 for removal and preconcentration of trace copper(II).
abstract: Three types of chelating agents immobilized on glass were compared with Chelex 100 for removing and preconcentrating trace Cu(2+) from laboratory-prepared solutions. Columns of immobilized N-propylethylenediamine (diamine), its bis(dithiocarbamate) (DTC) and immobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) quantitatively remove Cu(2+) (10-200 mug l. ) from buffered solutions at pH 6.00. Addition of isolated natural organic matter at concentrations typical of organic-rich fresh waters (25-100 mug l. ) complexed Cu(2+) and hindered the performance of Chelex and the immobilized chelating agents. In the presence of organic matter the DTC performed very well, removing about 98% of the Cu(2+). However, the Cu(2+) removed could not be readily recovered from the column. Chelex gave the poorest results, removing only 62 and 75% of Cu(2+) at the two levels tested. The other immobilized reagents gave results that were strongly dependent on their contact time with the solution. Longer columns and slower flow-rates tended to improve results. Overall, the immobilized 8-HQ is probably the most suitable of the materials tested for preconcentration work. A batch titration of 8-HQ with Cu(2+) monitored by ion-selective electrode indicated a conditional stability constant of 6.2 x 10(7), which is larger than the corresponding value for the complex with non-immobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline, measured under the same conditions.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, U.S.A.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Weber