Determination of copper in biological samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after precipitation with Me-BTAP

Abstract

A simple and sensitive method was developed for determination of trace copper by direct precipitation preconcentration and detection with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The reagent 2-[2′-(6-methyl-benzothiazolylazo)]-4-aminophenol (Me-BTAP) was used as precipitating agent. The experimental conditions for the quantitative precipitation of copper, such as pH, amount of reagents, temperature and the effect of diverse ions on the precipitation have been investigated. It was found that copper is quantitatively extracted (≥95%) and the method provides a sensitivity enhancement of 40-fold for a 10 ml sample volume with a detection limit of 0.5 μg l⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace copper in water, urine and biological samples.