Preconcentration of trace copper with yeast for river water analysis

A new preconcentration method with yeast is presented. The method was evaluated for the determination of trace copper in river water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A suitable cultivation bed for preconcentration of copper was 3.5 mg ml−1 2-ammonium hydrogen phosphate. The optimal cultivation time and temperature were 2 h and 40°C. Under optimal conditions, copper in aqueous sample was concentrated about seven-fold by yeast. The detection limit was 85 pg ml−1 (3S/N) for copper in river waters. The yeast preconcentration method was applied to the determination of copper in river waters. The recovery of spiked copper was in the range of 93–100%. By the preconcentration, it was found that ultra trace copper in river waters could be determined without interferences of matrix elements, after only the cultivation and no chemical treatment.