TRACE ENRICHMENT AND ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRIC DETERMINATION OFLEAD, COPPER, CADMIUM AND NICKEL IN DRINKING-WATER SAMPLES BY USE OF AN ACTIVATED CARBON COLUMN

A simple method for atomic absorption spectrometric determination of l ead copper, cadmium and nickel in drinking water samples after preconc entration by sorbing 1-(2-pyridylazo) 2-naphthol (PAN) complex of thes e metals on an activated carbon column has been established. The metal /PAN complexes were quantitatively retained on the activated carbon in the pH range 6-8. Metals retained on the activated carbon column were completely eluted with 2M HCl in acetone. This method was applied to the determination of lead, copper, cadmium and nickel in drinking wate r samples and good results were obtained (Recoveries >95%, relative st andard deviations <7%, relative error <3%).