FULLERENES AS SORBENT MATERIALS FOR METAL PRECONCENTRATION

The analytical potential of C-60 fullerenes as sorbent materials for p reconcentration of metal traces by formation of neutral chelates was s tudied for the first time in this work. The model system used for this purpose was the determination of lead traces in waters by using ammon ium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate as ligand. The chelate is formed in a c ontinuous-flow system, sorbed on a C-60 fullerene minicolumn, and subs equently eluted for transfer to an atomic absorption spectrometer. Two other simultaneous batches of experiments were performed in parallel by using C-18 bonded silica and activated carbon as sorbents in order to study the features of the new sorbent material and its advantages. The primary assets of C-60 fullerenes in this respect are a high sensi tivity arising from efficient adsorption and also high selectivity der ived from the special features of this new type of sorbent material.