Simultaneous determination of cobalt, nickel and copper in seawater with amulti-element electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer and microcolumn preconcentration

A preconcentration system for multi-element electrothermal atomic absorptio n spectrometry was developed with a microcolumn packed with a chelating res in. The proposed method was applied successfully to the simultaneous determ ination of Co, Ni and Cu in seawater. A sample volume of 2 ml was required for the analysis. Retention of metal ions as a complex on the microcolumn w as achieved by using Muromac A-1 (7 mul) as the chelating resin; 20% HNO3 ( 50 mul) was then used for elution. The eluate was injected directly into th e graphite furnace. The simple calibration curve method was used. The detec tion limits and relative process standard deviations of this method were 1. 5 x 10(-4), 4.8 x 10(-4) and 1.2 x 10(-3) mug l(-1), and 4.3, 4.8 and 9.9% for Co, Ni and Cu, respectively. The accuracy of the method was confirmed b y the analysis of two certified reference saline waters.