Simultaneous preconcentration of cadmium and chromium(III) in water samples by cloud point extraction and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive and simple method for flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination of traces of cadmium and chromium(III) species in water samples after preconcentration by cloud point extraction has been developed. A novel complex agent of alizarin complexone with cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr(III)) was quantitatively extracted in surface primary alcohol ethoxylate-rich phase at 33 degrees C. The effects of experimental conditions including pH of sample solution, concentration of chelating agent and salt, equilibration temperature and time, and foreign ions were evaluated in order to enhance sensitivity of the method. Under optimal conditions, the low limit detections were 6.7 and 3.2 mu g/L, and the enrichment factors were 24 and 20 for Cd and Cr(III), respectively. The relative standard deviations were 3.8 and 2.5% for Cd and Cr(II), respectively (n = 11). The high recoveries of the spiked Cd and Cr(III) ions were obtained in the range of 90-116%. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of Cd and Cr(III) in water samples.