Studying the effect of an ionic liquid on cloud point extraction technique for highly efficient preconcentration and speciation analysis of tellurium in water, soil and sediment samples.

A simple, novel and highly sensitive ionic liquid-assisted cloud point extraction (IL-CPE) and preconcentration method was developed for the determination and speciation analysis of tellurium, using 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as an additive for improving the extraction efficiency of Triton X-114. The Te(IV) species was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, extracted into the micellar IL/surfactant phase and then directly measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The total Te concentration was obtained after a pre-reduction step and Te(VI) concentration was calculated as the difference between total Te and Te(IV). Several parameters, including the type and concentration of IL and surfactant, time and temperature of the IL-CPE procedure and ETAAS conditions were thoroughly evaluated and optimized. In addition, the action mechanism of the IL on CPE was studied by fluorescence measurements using Laurdan as a polarity probe. The decrease in the internal polarity caused by the incorporation of the IL into the micelles was responsible for the improvement in the extraction efficiency. Under the optimized conditions, a sensitivity enhancement factor of 87 and an extraction efficiency of 90% were achieved. Limits of detection of 1.1 and 1.7 ng L-1 and relative standard deviations of 3.9% and 5.0% for Te(IV) and Te(VI), respectively, were obtained. The developed IL-CPE method was successfully applied for Te speciation analysis in matrices of different complexities, such as waters (tap, underground and seawater), soil and sediment.