Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Reveals Anomalous Transfer of Heavy Metal across a Water/1,2-DCE Interface

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of samples taken from the organic phase of a water/1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) interfacial electrochemical cell, rendered nonpolarizable by the tetraphenylarsonium common-ion, revealed significant transfer of heavy metal from the aqueous phase. Heavy metal concentration found within 1,2-DCE cannot be explained via ion pair formation between the metallic species and the common-ion, nor by ion pair formation between the metallic species and the hydrophobic anion of the organic phase. Results suggest that metal may have been anomalously transferred into 1,2-DCE within water-in-oil droplets formed by spontaneous emulsification of the interfacial region.