A monolithic copolymer prepared from N-(4-vinyl)-benzyl iminodiacetic acid, divinylbenzene and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide for preconcentration of cadmium(II) and cobalt(II) from biological samples prior to their determination by ICP-MS.

A capillary monolith consisting of poly[N-(4-vinyl)-benzyl iminodiacetic acid-co-divinylbenzene-co-N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide), referred to as poly(VBIDA-DVB-Bis), has been prepared. It is shown to be an efficient sorbent for the enrichment of Co(II) and Cd(II). The two ions are completely retained by the monolith in the pH range from 4.0 to 9.0. The breakthrough curve tests were adopted to evaluate the adsorption performance of the monolith towards Co(II) and Cd(II). A dose-response model was used to describe the breakthrough curves of the two ions at different initial concentrations. The adsorption capacities for Co(II) and Cd(II) are 1.54 and 1.73 mg·m-1 at a concentration level of 2.5 mg·L-1, respectively. The enrichment factor is 100, and the required sample volume is 5 mL. Following elution of the two ions with 0.5 M HNO3, they were quantified by ICP-MS. The limits of detection in a 1 mL sample are 0.35 ng·L-1 for Co(II) and 0.44 ng·L-1 for Cd(II). The method was applied to the determination of Co(II) and Cd(II) in spiked rice, human urine and seawater samples. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of a monolithic copolymer prepared from N-(4-vinyl)-benzyl iminodiacetic acid (VBIDA), divinylbenzene (DVB) and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (Bis) and its application for selective capturing of cadmium(II) and cobalt(II) from complex sample matrices prior to their determination by ICP-MS.