Eco-Friendly On-Site Water Analyses for Ultra-Trace Harmful Ions

Abstract

Governments in developed countries specify water quality standards to be applied in their own countries. Recently the allowance values of harmful metals are getting tighter for environmental water and industrial wastewater throughout the world. For example, World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the criterion value of 3 ppb for cadmium for protection of human health, furthermore, governments of some countries provide the wastewater standard for zinc for conservation of aquatic life. High-performance analytical instruments such as AAS, ICP, and ICP-MS have been employed as official analytical methods of ultra-trace elements. Besides the costly initial and running expenses and the material and energy consuming of the instruments, specific technical skills and long analytical time are required for sample pre-treatment. Therefore, simple yet highly sensitive and eco-friendly on-site methods have been demanded for quick judgment of industrial and environmental water in developed countries as well as evaluation of drinking water in developing countries.