A metal-organic framework sustained by a nanosized Ag12 cuboctahedral node for solid-phase extraction of ultra traces of lead(II) ions

We show that a metal-organic framework (MOF) sustained by a nanosized Ag12 cuboctahedral node can be applied to selectively extract traces of lead(II) ion from environmental water samples. The MOF was characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, and X-ray diffraction. The effects of pH value, flow rates, of type, concentration and volume of the eluent, of break-through volume and potentially interfering ions on the separation and determination of lead were evaluated. Following desorption with EDTA, Pb(II) was quantified by FAAS. The use of the MOF results in excellent analytical figures of merit including an analytical range from 2 to 180 μg L^-1 of Pb(II) (R² > 0.99); a limit of detection of 500 ng L^-1; an adsorption capacity of 120 mg g^-1; an extraction efficiency of >95 %, and a relative standard deviation of <4 % (for eight separate column experiments). [Figure not available: see fulltext.]