Preconcentration of heavy metal impurities from water on chromatographic paper

An attempt is made to employ the previously proposed method for preconcentr ation of nonvolatile impurities as a narrow zone on a TLC plate or on chrom atographic paper for extraction of heavy metals from potable water. The met hod is based on vigorous evaporation of a volatile matrix (water) induced b y a stream of hot air. The degree of preconcentration was determined using ICP MS analysis for lead, cobalt, and zinc. The concentrations of impuritie s increased by a factor of more than 200 over a period of 20-30 min.