A simple and facile preconcentration procedure based on the coprecipitation of trace heavy metal ions with copper(II)-rubeanic acid complex has been developed. The analytical parameters including pH, amounts of rubeanic acid, sample volume, etc. was investigated for the quantitative recoveries of Pb(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Au(III), Pd(II) and Ni(II). No interferic effects were observed from the concomitant ions. The detection limits for analyte ions by 3 sigma were in the range of 0.14 mu g/l for iron-3.4 mu g/l for lead. The proposed coprecipitation method was successfully applied to water samples from Palas Lake-Kayseri, soil and sediment samples from Kayseri and Yozgat-Turkey. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.