A new method for the analysis of copper and its speciation in Rhizoma coptidis was proposed using chelatometric dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction(cDLLME) followed by capillary electrophoresis. Dithizone was used as a chelating agent for extraction and carbon tetrachloride and ethanol were used as extraction and dispersive solvent,respectively.The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.5- 20.0μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990(n = 6) and the average recovery was in the range of 88.26%-94.44%.The method was successfully used to determine the total and water soluble copper in Rhizoma coptidis herbal medicine.The results suggested that it would be reasonable to setting the criterion of heavy metals in an herbal medicine according to the dosage forms.
