Separation/Enrichment of Copper and Silver Using Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Coated with Poly-Thiophene and Their Analysis by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

We report on the use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) coated with poly-thiophene for the preconcentration of copper and silverions. The NPs were prepared by first modifying the surface of TiO2 NPs with vinyl groups and then copolymerizing them with vinyl thiophen. The resulting TiO2-polythiophene core-shell NPs were characterized by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The experimental conditions such as pH value, adsorption and desorption time, type, concentration and volume of the eluent, break through volume, and effect of potentially interfering ions were optimized. The ions were then desorbed with hydrochloric acid and determined by FAAS. The limits of detection are 0.4 and 1.2 μg·L_1 for Cu(II) and Ag(I), respectively, and recoveries and precisions are >98.0% and