Solid-Phase Extraction of Pb(II) Using Glutaraldehyde Crosslinked Chitosan/Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose was synthesized as a sorbent for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of Pb ions. This study optimized the SPE method for Pb2+ preconcentration. SPE parameters such as pH, sample concentration, loading and eluting flow rates, and reusability were investigated. The Pb2+ concentration retained in the sorbent was analysed using AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry), while the sorbent was characterized using FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy and SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray). The optimum parameters for SPE were pH 6, an initial Pb concentration of 10 mg L-1 and flow rates for both loading and elution of 9 mL min-1. The highest efficiency achieved under these optimum conditions was 98.98 %. However, this efficiency reduced with repeated sorbent usage to 82.34 % in the second cycle and 40.22 % in the fifth cycle.