Synthesis of cross-linked chitosan possessing N-methyl-d-glucamine moiety (CCTS-NMDG) for adsorption/concentration of boron in water samples and its accurate measurement by ICP-MS and ICP-AES

A chitosan resin derivatized with N-methyl-d-glucamine (CCTS-NMDG) was synthesized by using a cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) as base material. The N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) moiety was attached to the amino group of CCTS through the arm of chloromethyloxirane. The adsorption behavior of 59 elements on the synthesized resin was systematically examined by using the resin packed in a mini-column, passing water samples through it and measuring the adsorbed elements in eluates by ICP-MS. The CCTS-NMDG resin shows high ability in boron sorption with the capacity of 0.61 mmol ml−1 (= 2.1 mmol g−1). The sorption kinetics of this resin was faster than that of the commercially available resins. Other advantages of the synthesized resin are: (1) quantitative collection of boron at neutral pH regions; (2) complete removal of large amounts of matrices; (3) no loss of efficiency over prolonged usage; (4) effective collection of boron in wide range concentration using a mini column containing 1 ml resin; (5) complete elution of boron with 1 mol l−1 nitric acid. The resin was applied to the collection/concentration of boron in water samples. Boron in tap water and river water was found to be in the range of 6–8 μg l−1. The limit of detection (LOD) of boron after pretreatment with CCTS-NMDG resin and measurement by ICP-MS was 0.07 μg l−1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.14 μg l−1 when the volume of each sample and eluent was 10 ml.