Separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of rhodium using a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of low levels of rhodium (Rh) in environmental samples is needed. In the proposed method, an extracting solvent with a lower toxicity and density than the other solvents typically used in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was used to extract trace amounts of Rh from aqueous samples. Rh ions were complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol in the pH range of 3.2-4.7 and extracted with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. The type and volume of the extracting solvent and dispersive solvent, centrifugation time, pH, amount of the chelating agent, and sample ionic strength were carefully studied. Under the optimal conditions, the LOD and RSD were 0.36 ng/mL (3Sb/m, n = 7) and +/-2.0% (n = 7), respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 4.0-800 ng/mL. The method was applied to the determination of Rh in well and tap water, and spiked recoveries were in the range of 96-103.7%.