Separation and preconcentration of trace amount of nickel from water and food samples by modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

 A new method for the separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of nickel in food and water samples by magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) with modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed. For this purpose, the modification of the nanoparticles was performed by surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromid. The extraction of nickel ions from the aqueous solution was performed with &alpha-Furildioxime as the chelating agent. The varius parameters affecting the extraction and preconcentration of nickel were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curve showed an excellent linearity in the concentration range of 1-100 µg L-1 and the limit of detection was 0.3 µg L-1 of nickel. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of nickel in food and water samples. The relative recoveries for determination of nickel in food and water samples was between 96/0-99/5% and 97/3-103/0%, respectively. The results showed that, magnetic nanoparticles can be used as a cheap and efficient adsorbent for the extraction and preconcentration of nickel from real samples.