Determination of copper(II) in various samples by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after column separation by adsorption of its N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine complex on benzophenone

A sensitive technique for the determination of trace Cu(II) in various samples after the column preconcentration by adsorbing its N-benzoylphenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) onto benzophenone was developed. Several experimental conditions such as the pH of the sample solution, the amount of chelating agent, the amount of benzophenone, and the flowrate of sample solution and so forth were optimized. The interfering effects of diverse concomitant ions were investigated. Fe(III) and $CN^-$ interfered with more seriously than any other ions. However, the interference by these ions could be overcome sufficiently by adjusting the added volume of 0.01M BPHA to 10 mL. The dynamic range, the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) and the detection limit obtained by this proposed technique were 5.0~120 ng/mL, 0.9974, and 2.1 ng/mL, respectively. For validating this proposed technique, the aqueous samples (stream water, reservoir water, and wastewater), the plastic sample and the diluted brass sample were used. Recovery yields of 93~102% were obtained. These measured data were not different from ICP-MS data at 95% confidence level. This method was also validated by the rice flour CRM (normal, fortified) samples. Based on the results from the experiment, it was found that this proposed technique could be applied to the determination of Cu(II) in various real samples.