This work describes a novel Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@polyaminoquinoline magnetic nanocomposite and its application in the pre-concentration of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions. The parameters affecting the pre-concentration procedure were optimised by a Box-Behnken design through response surface methodology. Three variables (extraction time, magnetic sorbent amount and pH) were selected as the main factors affecting the sorption step, while four variables (type, volume and concentration of the eluent, and elution time) were selected as main factors in the optimisation study of the elution step. Following the sorption and elution of analytes, the ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FASS). The limits of detection were 0.1 and 0.7 ng ml(-1) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions, respectively. All the relative standard deviations were less than 7.6%. The sorption capacities of this new sorbent were 57 mg g(-)(1) for Cd(II) and 73 mg g(-1) for Pb(II). Ultimately, this nanocomposite was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of trace quantities of these heavy metal ions from seafood and agricultural samples and satisfactory results were obtained.
Keywords: Box–Behnken design; Cd(II); Fe3O4@SiO2@polyaminoquinoline magnetic nanocomposite; Pb(II); food samples; sorption.