Performance of different preconcentration columns used in sequential injection analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for multielemental determination in seawater

A simple, versatile and economical method of sequential injection analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry with matrix removal in two different ion-exchange resins for the determination of Al, As, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and V is reported. The resins used, both of which contain the iminodiacetic acid functional group, were Chelex 100 and Metpac CC-1. With both resins, a matrix removal step (alkaline and alkaline-earth metals) with ammonium acetate is required before elution of the analytes with 2 M HNO3. The procedure was validated by analyzing CASS-3 seawater reference material and good agreement was found with the certified values. Precision (n=8) for the nine elements was in the range 0.8–4.9% for the Chelex 100 column and the recoveries ranged from 87.4 to 107.9%, except for Cu (78.7%) and Pb (74.9%), owing to the formation of hydroxides. For the Metpac CC-1 column, precision for the nine elements was in the range 1.2–7.1% and the recoveries between 91.7 and 109.3%, except for Al (127.2%), Co (118.5%) and Ni (127.5%) due to contamination problems.