Research Article
Online Determination of Sm, Eu and Yb in Environmental Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry
J. DILIP KUMAR, P. REDDY PRASAD, B. KRISHNA PRIYA,
P. SUBRAHMANYAM S. RAMANAIAH and P. CHIRANJEEVI
ABSTRACT
A procedure was developed for the determination of Sm, Eu and Yb in water samples by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after preconcentration on synthesized 5-(4-pyridyl azo)-8-quinolinol supported by Borassus flabellifer inflorescence (BFI). The sorbed element was subsequently eluted with 0.4 M HNO3 and the acid eluates were analyzed by ICP-OES. Under the optimal conditions, Sm, Eu and Yb in aqueous samples were concentrated 100-fold. Recoveries were obtained by the proposed method in the range of 98.6 -99.8%. This method was also applied for the analysis of spiked and natural water samples. The results provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis of an adsorption mechanism.
Received 14 December 2006; Accepted 10 January 2007