Trace metals in water were preconcentrated with silica gel modified wi
th salicylaldoxime and determined by AAS. Optimum conditions for the m
aximum recovery of metal ions, viz. Cu(II), NI(II), Co(II), Zn(II) and
Fe(III), for both batch and column methods were developed. The effici
ency of the adsorbent with respect to different experimental condition
s was established.