Development of PU‐TZnO solid‐phase extractor for selective detection of mercury in complex matrices

In this study, a new effective solid‐phase extractor (PU‐TZnO 3) was developed for a selective extraction and determination of mercury using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The selectivity of PUA (PU‐TZnO 0.5, PU‐TZnO 1, PU‐TZnO 3, or PU‐TZnO 5) was investigated toward several metal ions, including Au(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), Pd(II), and Zn(II). Based on selectivity and pH studies, Hg(II) was the most quantitatively adsorbed on PU‐TZNO 3 phase at pH 2, indicating that PU‐TZnO 3 is more selective for Hg(II) as compared to other metal ions. Based on the adsorption isotherm analysis, the maximum adsorption capacity of PU‐TZnO 3 phase for Hg(II) was found to be 99.68 mg g⁻¹, following the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Further kinetic models suggested pseudo second‐order kinetic model for adsorption of Hg(II) on the PU‐TZnO 3. In addition, results of thermodynamic investigation demonstrated that a general spontaneous process is favorable for adsorption mechanism of Hg(II) on PU‐TZnO 3. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2106–2112, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers