Abstract
In this work, Amberlite IRC-50 cation exchanger has been chemically functionalized with 8-hydroxyquinoline chelator to enhance its sorption capacity and selectivity toward transition metals. The resin characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and elemental analysis. Under optimum conditions, the sorption capacity values for Mn (II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) ions have been increased by 50% or more in comparison with plain resin. The calibration curves for the studied ions were linear over the concentration range from 0 (blank) to 50 ng/ml. with R2 from 0.994-0.999. The LOD values for Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) were 0.024, 0.035, 0.048, and 0.058 ng ml
−1
respectively. The sorbent worked well as an efficient SPE material for the studied ions from groundwater real samples prior to their analysis by ICP-MS. The acceptable recovery and accuracy values prove its competence to extract these metals from groundwater matrices.