A procedure for the determination of trace amounts of Fe in mineral water is described. The method combines atomicabsorption spectrometry with precon-centration of analyte by extraction. The complexation of iron with 8-oxyquinoline was efficient enabling its preconcentrate from water. The developed preconcen-tration permitted the determination of iron in mineral water samples from Lithua-nia, the analysis of which would be restricted due to the poor sensitivity of direct flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The determination of iron in natural water
samples (selected from different areas of Lithuania) was performed directly with-out preconcentration. Both methodologies showed excellent reproducibility and
accuracy. In addition, the analytical costs of the proposed extraction method are
low. It is also simple, quick and the operation techniques are fairly easy. Thus, the
proposed preconcentration methodology offers a simple and sensitive alternative
to other preconcentration techniques. Moreover, the procedure would appear to have
potential for application in the determination of iron in seawater, groundwater and
different manufacturing wastewater.
Consequently, this extraction atomic ab-sorption spectrometric determination of iron can be suitable for routine application
in water analysis.