Ham. Elmahadi et Gm. Greenway, SPECIATION AND PRECONCENTRATION OF TRACE-ELEMENTS WITH IMMOBILIZED ALGAE FOR ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETECTION, Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry, 9(4), 1994, pp. 547-551
The properties of two covalently immobilized algae, Chlamydomonus rein
hartii and Selenestrum capricornutum, were compared for the preconcent
ration of Cu2+, Ag+, Cr3+ and Cr6+. These reagents were found to have
different properties, with Chlamydomonus reinhartii having a lower cap
acity for CU2 + and a higher capacity for Cr6+. With the exception of
Cr6+, the maximum preconcentration of the metal ions investigated occu
rred at different pH values for the different algae, suggesting that d
ifferent binding sites were involved. The accuracy of the preconcentra
tion method for the analysis of estuarine sediment (using both reagent
s) was illustrated with a reference sample obtained from the National
Research Council Canada. A flow system for the speciation of Cr6+ and
Cr3+ was then developed using both reagents. It was shown that no inte
rference occurred between the two species. Further interference studie
s showed that metal ion interferences were minor even when the interfe
ring ion was present in excess. The effects of sodium chloride, sodium
hydrogencarbonate and humic acid were also studied and these were fou
nd to interfere by competing for the metal ions to be complexed.