Application of a new ion-imprinted polymer for solid-phase extraction of bismuth from various samples and its determination by ETAAS

A batch process was developed to extract bismuth ions by a novel and selective sorbent. In this study, a new Bi(III)-ion imprinted polymer was prepared by formation of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol complex for selective preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of bismuth. Polymerization was performed with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, as crosslinking monomer and methacrylic acid as functional monomer; in the presence of 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile, as initiator, via bulk polymerization. Optimum pH for maximum sorption was 2.5-3.5. Maximum sorbent capacity and enrichment factor for bismuth were 35.9mgg(-1) and 300, respectively. The relative standard deviation and limit of detection the method were evaluated as +/- 4.1% and 8.6ngL(-1). This method is simple, selective and sensitive and can be applied to the determination of bismuth in water, biological and plant samples.