Studies of some ultratrace elements in antarctic water via crown ether crosslinked chitosan

A new type of crown ether crosslinked chitosan was prepared by the reaction of chitosan with synthesized 4,4′-dibromodibenzo-18-crown-6. Its adsorption behaviors for some ultratrace elements at different sites in Antarctica were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption rates were greater than 95% at pH 7.5, the enrichment factor of the ultraelements was greater than 50, and the detection limits of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy were improved greatly. The proper analysis conditions were examined, and a new method of detecting ultratrace elements in environmental water samples with dibromodibenzo-18-crown-6 crosslinked chitosan was developed. In addition, the elements could easily be eluted off after absorption by dibenzo-18-crown-6 crosslinked chitosan, and so it is possible for this method to be used as a routine and valuable analysis method in environmental inspections. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 806–809, 2003