A nanocomposite made from conducting organic polymers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the adsorption and separation of gold(III) ions

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) Vol. 175; no. 3-4; pp. 315 - 322
• Main Authors: Nabid, Mohammad Reza, Sedghi, Roya, Hajimirza, Roya, Oskooie, Hossein Abdi, Heravi, Majid M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.12.2011; Springer
• Subjects: Adsorption; Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Exact sciences and technology; Global environmental pollution; Microengineering; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Pollution; Polymer industry; Polymers; Solid phase extraction; Gold; MWCNTs/PANI nanocomposite; MWCNTs/PEDOT nanocomposite; Trace analysis; Sample; Use; Adsorption capacity; Carbon nanotubes; Gold III; Organic polymers; Concentration; Gold ion; Method; Chemical enrichment; Sorption; Adsorption; Volume; Detection limit; Reference material; pH; Environment; Nanocomposite
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-011-0680-6

We describe a new method for the separation and preconcentration of traces of Au(III) in environmental samples. Sorbents made from modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes and conducting polymers (PANI and PEDOT) were used for solid-phase extraction. The Au(III) ions are adsorbed as a result of the interaction with the electron pairs of =N- and -S- groups. Effects of pH value, flow rate and volume of sample, type, volume and concentration of eluent, and the adsorption capacity were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of MWCNTs/PANI and MWCNTs/PEDOT are 159 and 176 mg g −1 , and the detection limits of this method are below 0.3 and 0.5 ng mL −1 , respectively. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of traces of Au(III) in a reference material and in environmental samples. Figure The multiwalled carbon nanotubes/conducting polymers (PANI and PEDOT) were used for solid-phase extraction of Au(III) ions. The Au(III) adsorbed on macromolecules chains; resulting from sharing an electron pair of = N– and –S– groups of conducting polymers with gold ions. The final results demonstrate that nanocomposites are convenient for preconcentration and determination of gold from environmental samples.