Membrane-based sample pre-treatment strategies in ultra-trace determination of metal ions in complex matrices
Abstract: In the present thesis, analytical sample pre-treatment methods for the determination of trace metal ions in complex matrices were developed and tested. These methods were based on membrane fractionation, clean-up and enrichment of analytes and applied to the determination of aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel and lead in biological and environmental samples. In one application different mass transport mechanisms were tested for analyte pre-concentration and matrix isolation with Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) extraction. Mechanisation, automation and on-line coupling of the SLM technique to the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) instrumentation increased the sample throughput and kept contamination under control. In another application, a polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane was used for the removal of particulate matter from humic acid-like substances solutions before analyte enrichment on a chelating ion-exchange column.
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