A simple in situ preconcentration method for the simultaneous determination of major and minor alkali and alkaline-earth metals in natural waters using iminodiacetate-grafted fiber.

A simple and effective procedure was developed for the simultaneous in situ preconcentration of major and minor alkali and alkaline-earth metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) from natural waters with iminodiacetate-grafted fiber (IDA-fiber), using soil water extracts as an example. The method was verified on mixed standard solutions of the metals at concentrations and ionic strengths reported for regular soil solutions. When complemented with routine microfiltration procedures, the method could distinguish between the dissolved in hydrated ion form and bound fractions of these metals, presumably colloidal and firmly complexed. The method was tested on water extracts from heavy clayey Vertisol and light red sandy-loam soils. The results showed that most of the Rb, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba of the 0.45-μm filtrate were bound to unreactive water-mobile compounds, whereas K and Na were determined predominantly in dissolved/reactive forms. The preliminary charged IDA-fiber can be used to preconcentrate the metals in situ from soil water and other types of natural waters with subsequent determination in a stationary laboratory, thus avoiding the critical step of storage and transportation of the unstable water samples. Graphical abstract A bundle of preliminary charged iminodiacetate-grafted fiber placed in a water-sample during in-field preconcentration procedure.