Pre-concentration and separation of copper with water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) and acetone system prior to its spectrophotometric determination

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) 2009-04, Vol.165 (1-2), p.103-107
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhike, Fu, Zheng, Ye, Cunling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Exact sciences and technology; Global environmental pollution; Microengineering; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Natural water pollution; Original Paper; Pollution; Spectrometric and optical methods; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-008-0105-3

A water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol)–acetone system for the pre-concentration and separation of Cu 2+ in environmental water samples has been developed. First, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was able to complex with Cu 2+ , and the reaction product, the copper–PVA complex, was precipitated in excess acetone. Sequentially, the precipitate was separated by decantation and dissolved in a minimum amount of water. Finally, the copper ions were determined by the sodium diethyldithiocarbamate spectrophotometric method. Some related parameters that might affect the recovery of the copper were investigated in detail. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the detection limit is 0.014 µg mL −1 and the linearity range is from 0.025 to 3.00 µg mL −1 . The relative standard deviation ( n  = 11) is 1.1%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of copper in spring water, ground water, tap water, lake water and electroplating waste water. A possible mechanism of the method is also proposed.