Preconcentration and Determination of Tin in Water Samples by Using Cloud Point Extraction and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A method based on cloud point extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was developed for the analysis of trace tin in water samples. After cloud point extraction, the tin in the water samples was preconcentrated and successfully separated from most interferents. During the procedure, 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) was used as chelating reagent, and Triton X-114 was added as surfactant. The parameters affecting the sensitivity and the extraction efficiency, such as solution pH, concentration of 8-HQ and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and centrifuge time, were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a preconcentration factor of 96.2 was obtained for a 20 mL water sample. The detection limit (LOD) was as low as 0.012 ng mL−1, and the analytical curve was linear in the range of 0.05–2.0 ng mL−1 with satisfactory precision (RSD <4.1%). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace tin in water samples with recoveries in the range of 85.0–112.0%.