Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace copper in water after its preconcentration on chitosan

A sensitive method for the determination of trace copper in water by flame absorption spectrometry using chitosan modified tungsten wire matrix is presented. The modified tungsten wire spiral coil was immersed in a Britton-Robinson buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing trace copper, which was stirred by a magnetic stirrer and was then transferred to the air/acetylene flame burner. The concentration range is linear from 2 to 75 mu g/L copper in solution and the detection limit is 0.98 mu g/L. This new technique is sensitive and convenient.