In this study, a simple, rapid and inexpensive approach for the screening of heavy metals with photometric reagents was developed based on porous, anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) films, with detection limits of 0.45 mg L-1(Co2+), 0.25 mg L-1(Pb2+) and 0.59 mg L-1(Ni2+). Noble metal ions Ag+and Pd2+, as well as Cu2+, formed nanoparticles within the AAO channels during micro-solid phase extraction driven by galvanic electroless displacement followed by UV detection.