Flame atomic absorption determination of palladium after separation and preconcentration using polyethyleneimine water-soluble polymer/alumina as a new sorbent

Abstract

In this study, polyethyleneimine (PEI) water-soluble polymer was coated onto alumina and was then used as a sorbent for preconcentration and separation of palladium in a column system. Conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of palladium were optimized. Thiourea and HCl solution could efficiently elute adsorbed palladium(II) ion from the surface of the sorbent. The sorption capacity 13 mg Pd g⁻¹ sorbent and loading half time (t_1/2) less than 2 min was obtained. The preconcentration factor of the method was 300. The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.33 ng mL⁻¹ to 8.0 μg mL⁻¹ in the original solution. The relative standard deviation ±2.3% for eight replicate determination at a concentration of 1 μg mL⁻¹ Pd(II) and detection limit 0.042 ng mL⁻¹ was obtained. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of palladium in the standard alloy and the anodic slime.