Due to importance of trace analysis of lead and copper ions because of their toxicity, in this paper, for the
first time a unique tetragonal star-like morphology of polyaniline was applied as a efficient solid phase
for selective trace separation of copper and lead at optimum experimental conditions in shrimp, fish
and water samples. Due to the unique star like nanostructure of synthesized sorbent, the tendency of
the sorbent toward selective extraction of lead and copper ion in the optimised pH is very interesting.
The prepared polymeric resin displayed good figures of merits with analytical calibration curve ranging
from 1 to 120 lgL1
for copper and 2 to 100 lgL1
for lead ions with limits of detection of 0.4 lgL1
for
copper and 0.9 lgL1
for lead, adsorption capacities of 84 and 110 mg g1
for copper and lead ions,
respectively, extraction efficiency of greater than 96%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than
4% for eight separate column experiments in determination of 5.0 lg of lead and copper. The obtained
data for adsorption capacity of the sorbent shows the high tendency of the sorbent toward the mentioned
ions in this nanostructure form. Finally, this sorbent can be used as a simple, rapid, reliable, selective and
sensitive method for determination of trace levels of Cu(II) and Pb(II).