Microextraction Methods for Preconcentration of Aluminium in Urine Samples

Background: Analysis of aluminium (Al) in urine samples is required in management of a number of diseases including patients with renal failure. This work aimed to present dispersive liquidliquid microextraction (DLLME) and ultrasoundassisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) methods for the preconcentration of ultratrace amount of aluminum in human urine prior to its determination by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Methods: The microextraction methods were based on the complex formation of Al3+ with 8hydroxyquinoline. The effect of various experimental parameters on the efficiencies of the methods and their optimum values were studied. Results: Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection for USAEMEGFAAS and DLLMEGFAAS were 0.19 and 0.30 ng mL^−1, respectively and corresponding relative standard deviations (RSD, n=5) for the determination of 40 ng mL^−1 Al^3+ were 5.9% and 4.9%. Conclusion: Both methods could be successfully used to the analysis of ultra trace concentrations of Al in urine samples of dialysis patients.