Development of a Disposable Pipette Extraction Method Using Coffee Silverskin as an Adsorbent for Chromium Determination in Wastewater Samples by Solid Phase Extraction

Abstract

A procedure using disposable pipette tips adapted for solid-phase extraction, known as DPX SPE, was used as an alternative way for the chromium determination in wastewater samples. DPX-SPE consists of a device which allows a dynamic contact between the sample and the solid-phase. A residue obtained from the processing of coffee beans, denominate coffee silverskin, was used as a new adsorbent. Characterization techniques revealed properties of lignocellulosic materials with potential application for chromium adsorption. The parameters including adsorbent mass (25.00 mg), elution solvent (0.1 mol L-1 HCl, 200 μL) and pH (2.0) were optimized. Thus, 1.00 mL of deionized water for conditioning, 4.00 mL of sample, 2 extraction cycles and 1 elution cycle were the employed conditions. Enrichment factor of 12, limit of detection of 6.00 µg L-1 and relative standard deviation (RSD) 1.3% (n = 3) were obtained. The method proved to be fast, cheap, environmentally friendly, and simple, providing good recoveries (104-113%), and it was satisfactorily applied in real samples.