On site preconcentration of trace elements in rainwater using anon-woven fabric made from a chelating fiber

A system using a non-woven fabric made from a chelating fiber was developed for on site preconcentration of trace elements in rainwater. The chelating fiber containing carboxymethylated polyethyleneimine as a polymer ligand was prepared with a wet spinning technique using a mixture of a viscose solution and the polymer ligand. A non-woven fabric was also prepared with a needlepunch technique using the chelating fiber. When a rainwater sample containing trace elements was then passed through into the non-woven fabric placed on a commercially available filter folder, the trace elements could be captured on the non-woven fabric.