LAUSR

In this research, hydrophobic task-specific room temperature ionic liquid (HTSRTIL) as a green modifier was synthesised and electrostatically in-situ immobilised on the magnetic multi-wall carbon nanotube (MMWCNT). This green reusable nano sorbent was employed successfully for the speciation/extraction of chromium species. The adsorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR). The methodology was based on the dispersive magnetic solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) decorated with HTRTIL as a chelating agent for speciation of chromium. Total chromium was specified by oxidising Cr (III) to Cr (VI) using KMnO4 in acid media. The concentration of Cr (III) was obtained by the difference of total chromium and Cr (VI). The target ion was adsorbed on the surface of the synthesised extractant and easily separated by an external magnet. The eluted analyte is being finally measured by the UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The effect of various parameters (including pH, sample volume, adsorbent amount, extraction time, and type and volume of the eluent) has been considered in depth in the optimisation process. The developed procedure, which has been analytically characterised under its optimal operation conditions, allows good linearity between 1–200 μg L and detection limits of 0.4 μg L. The precision of the method expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) 4.9% (n = 5) (intra-day) and 5.3% (inter-day) while the enrichment factor is 300. The proposed method has been used for the speciation of chromium from water (river, well, spring, and tap) with the recoveries in the range from 79 to 99%. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 31 May 2020 Accepted 25 July 2020