Pyridine-Functionalized TiO2 Nanoparticles as a Sorbent for Preconcentration and Determination of Ultra-Trace Palladium Ion

In this work, TiO2 nano-particles were modified by pyridine group and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR and elemental analysis (CHN). This sorbent was applied for pre-concentration of ultra-trace amount of palladium prior to its determination by flame atomic adsorption spectroscopy (FAAS). Through this study, different factors such as sample pH, sample flow rate, eluent parameters (type, concentration and volume), and elunet flow rate were optimized. Also effects of the selectivity of sorbent toward Pd(II) was investigated by palladium determination in presence of various interfering ions. The limit of detection was 3.8 ng mL 1 and recovery was 99.1 % with a relative standard deviation of 2.5%. Finally the method was validated using standard reference material which their paladium concentrations are certified.