ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 37, Number 3
JKCSEZ 37(3)
June 20, 1993 

A method was developed for the determination of trace elements in seawater by precipitate flotation preconcentration and subsequent flame atomic absorption detection. In order to quantitatively coprecipitate trace ions such as Cd(Ⅱ), Cu(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ), Mn(Ⅱ), Pb(Ⅱ) and Pd(Ⅱ), 2.0 ㎖ of 1.0M cerium(Ⅲ) solution was added to 1.0ℓ of seawater and the pH was adjusted to 9.5 with 5.0 M sodium hydroxide solution while stirring with a magnetic stirrer. The precipitate was floated with the aid of surfactant solution (1.0 ㎖ of 0.3% sodium oleate) by bubbling nitrogen gas through a porous (No. 4) fritted glass disk. The floats was collected in a small Erlenmeyer flask by suction. The washed precipitate was dissolved in 8.0 M nitric acid and marked with deionized water in the volumetric flask of 10.0 ㎖. The analyte was determined by measuring the atomic absorbances in 100-fold concentrated solution. Above all analytes in Kangnung (East Sea) and Kanghwado (West Sea) sea waters were found to be under the detection limit of this method. The recoveries of over 92% for all analytes spiked into seawater samples showed that this method was applicable to the analysis of real seawater.