Determination of lead by on-line solid phase extraction using a PTFE micro-column and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive time-based flow injection (FI) method for on-line preconcentration and determination of lead by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) turnings as packing material in a micro-column, has been developed. The sample was mixed on-line with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and the non-charged Pb(II)-PDC complex was absorbed quantitatively on the hydrophobic PTFE material, at a pH range 1.4-3.2. The preconcentrated complex was effectively eluted with isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) and introduced into the nebulizer-burner system. A nested coil (NC) is proposed for parking the eluate temporarily, in order to enable different elution and nebulization flow rates. With 180 s preconcentration time the sample frequency was 15 h(-1), and the enhancement factor was 330 at 13.0 ml min(-1) sample flow rate. The detection limit was c(L)=0.8 mug l(-1), the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) 2.6% at the 30 mug l(-1) level and the calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 1.6-100 mug l(-1). The proposed method was evaluated by analyzing certified reference materials of water, sediments and fish tissue. Finally, it was applied successfully to the analysis of various environmental samples.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of chromium(VI) by on-line preconcentration system using a PTFE packed column

A new, sensitive and robust time-based flow injection (FI) method for on-line preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of chromium(VI) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been elaborated. The sample is initially mixed on-line with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) and the Cr(VI)-PDC chelate is absorbed quantitatively on a mini-column packed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) turnings at a pH range 0.8-1.4. The complex is subsequently eluted with isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK) and introduced directly into the nebulizer-burner system. The optimized system offered improved performance characteristics, with unlimited lifetime of the proposed column. The enhancement factor was 80, for a 3-min preconcentration time and the sample frequency was 18 h(-1). The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 1-40 mug l(-1) with a detection limit of c(L)=0.8 mug l(-1) and a relative standard deviation of s(r)=3.2%, at the 20 mug l(-1) level. The proposed method was evaluated by analyzing samples of certified and spiked water, and it was applied to the analysis of natural water samples and sediments.     

On-line preconcentration and determination of copper, lead and chromium(VI) using unloaded polyurethane foam packed column by flame atomic absorption spectrometry in natural waters and biological samples

A simple, sensitive and low cost, flow injection time-based method was developed for on-line preconcentration and determination of copper, lead and chromium(VI) at sub mug l(-1) levels in natural waters and biological samples. At the optimum pH, the on-line formed metal-ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) complexes were sorbed on the unloaded commercial polyurethane foam (PUF), and subsequent eluted quantitatively by isobutylmethylketone and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). All chemical, and flow injection variables were optimized for the quantitative preconcentration of each metal and a study of interference level of various ions was also carried out. The system offered improved flexibility, low backpressure and applicability to all the studied metals. At a sample frequency of 36 h(-1) and a 60 s preconcentration time, the enhancement factor was 170, 131 and 28, the detection limit was 0.2, 1.8 and 2.0 mug l(-1), and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (s(r)), was 2.8 (at 10 mug l(-1)), 3.4 (at 50 mug l(-1)) and 3.6% (at 50 mug l(-1)) for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cr(VI), respectively. The accuracy of the developed method was sufficient and evaluated by the analysis of certified reference materials and spiked water samples. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of environmental samples.     

Determination of cadmium in biological materials by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with flow-injection on-line sorption preconcentration

A new on-line preconcentration flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) system for trace element determination was developed based on sorption of soluble metal complexes on the walls of a PTFE knotted reactor using flow injection techniques. The system was applied to the determination of cadmium in biological materials. Cadmium complexed with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate was sorbed on the inner walls of the reactor and eluted on-line by isobutyl methyl ketone. The retention efficiency was 81% at a sampling loading rate of 5.2 ml/min. The enhancement factor was 66 and the concentration efficiency was 61/min with a 50 sec preconcentration period, consuming 4.2 ml sample. A detection limit of 0.1 μg/l. Cd (3σ) was obtained with a sampling frequency of 55/hr. The precisions were 1.2% RSD for 20 μg/l. Cd (N = 11). Thiourea and ascorbic acid/phenanthroline were used to overcome interferences from copper and iron, respectively. The analytical results obtained for powdered rice and human hair standard reference materials were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Determination of cadmium, lead and copper in water samples by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry with preconcentration by flow-injection on-line sorbent extraction

Cadmium, lead and copper were determined in synthetic sea-water, drinking water and the NBS 1643b Trace Elements in Water standard reference material at mug/l. levels by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry after on-line preconcentration by sorbent extraction with a flow-injection system. Bonded silica with octadecyl functional groups packed in a micro column of 100 mul capacity was used to collect diethylammonium diethyldithiocarbamate complexes of the heavy metals in the aqueous samples. The sample loading time was 20 sec at a flow-rate of 3.3 ml/min. Ethanol or methanol was used to elute the adsorbed analytes into the spectrometer. The sample loading rate, elution rate and pH were optimized. Enrichment factors of 19-25 for Cd, Pb and Cu were achieved at sampling frequencies of 120/hr with precisions of 1.4, 1.0 and 1.3% rsd (n = 11), respectively. The detection limits (3sigma) for Cd, Pb and Cu were 0.3, 3 and 0.2 mug/l., respectively. Determination of Cd, Pb and Cu in NBS SRM 1643b showed good agreement with the certified values. Recoveries of Cd and Pb added to sea-water were 95 and 102%, respectively.     

Thick-target PIGE analysis of plant materials preconcentrated by dry ashing

An analytical methodology has been developed for the UV-spectrophotometric determination of carbaryl in waters after its preconcentration onto a polyether type polyurethane foam followed by on-line elution. The aforementioned strategy offers an easy way for in-field sampling and to improve the analytical sensitivity. Several chemical and flow variables (mass of sorbent, sample flow rate, sample volume and carrier flow rate) were studied to ensure the best performance of the system. Recovery studies, carried out on natural water samples spiked with known amounts of carbaryl at concentration levels between 250 and 500 mug l(-1), provided recovery percentages between 94 and 105%. A detection limit of 12 mug l(-1) was achieved and a variation coefficient of 3.4% was obtained at 0.50 mug ml(-1).     

Preconcentration of lead complexed with O,O-diethyl-dithiophosphate by column solid-phase extraction using different sorbents in a flow injection system coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer

A comparative study of C(18) immobilized on silica, activated carbon and a polyurethane foam, as sorbents for Pb complexed with O,O-diethyl-dithiophosphate in a flow injection preconcentration system is reported. The complex was formed in 1.0 M HCl medium and processed in a simple system using a peristaltic pump, a manual injector-commutator and a mini-column filled with the sorbent. Using ethanol as eluent, the richest 150-mul fraction was collected and measured (after discarding 150, 200 and 0 mul for the activated carbon, foam and C(18), respectively) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum concentration of the complexing agent was 0.05% m/v for C(18) and 0.2% m/v for the activated carbon and the polyurethane foam. The best sample loading flow rate was 4.0 ml min(-1) for the activated carbon and 2.0 ml min(-1) for C(18) and the polyurethane foam, while the best elution flow rate was 1.0 ml min(-1) (activated carbon) and 0.6 ml min(-1) (C(18) and foam). It was found that beyond a certain loading sample volume, for a constant analyte mass, the signal decreased. The maximum loading sample volume, for a constant analyte mass, before the signal started to decrease, was 50 ml for the activated carbon and 150 ml for the other materials. By processing 25 ml, the enrichment factors were 23, 55 and 166 for the activated carbon, foam and C(18), respectively. The best limit of detection (3sigma) was 0.3 mug l(-1) for the C(18) (1.2 mug l(-1) for the foam and 3 mug l(-1) for the activated carbon). As shown, the C(18) has a much superior retention performance in comparison to the other two materials.     

Synthesis and application of a functionalized resin in on-line system for copper preconcentration and determination in foods by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line system for preconcentration and determination of copper at μg l⁻¹ level by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid packed in a minicolumn was used as sorbent. Copper(II) ions were sorbed in the minicolumn, from which it could be eluted by hydrochloric acid solution directly to the nebulizer-burner system of the FAAS. Eluent solution was carried by water at a flow rate of 5.00 ml min⁻¹. Signals were measured as peak height by using an instrument software. Achieved sampling rate was 27 samples per hour. Analytical parameters were evaluated and the results demonstrated that copper can be determined, with acetate buffer to adjust the sample pH at 6.0, preconcentration time of 120 s and a sample flow rate of 6.50 ml min⁻¹. The desorption was carried out with 30 μl of a 1.0 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid solution. An enrichment factor of 33 in 13.00 ml of sample (120 s preconcentration time) was achieved by using the time-based technique. The detection limit (DL) (3 s) was 0.27 μg l⁻¹ and the precision (assessed as the relative standard deviation) reached values of 5.7-1.1% in copper solutions of 5.00 to 50.00 μg l⁻¹ concentration, respectively. The accuracy of procedure was confirmed by copper determination in certified reference materials. Recoveries of spike additions (1.0 or 2.0 μg g⁻¹) to food samples were quantitative (90.0-110.0%). These results proved also that the procedure is not affected by matrix interference and can be applied satisfactorily for copper determination in rice flour and starch samples.     

Use of 1,3-diaminepropane-3-propyl grafted onto a silica gel as a sorbent for flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of copper (II) in digests of biological materials and natural waters

The 1,3-diaminepropane-3-propyl-anchored silica gel (DAPPS) was successfully employed as a sorbent in a spectrophotometric flow system for the preconcentration of Cu(2+) in digests of biological materials (maize powder, soybean, citrus leaves, corn stalks) as well as water samples (river, stream, streamlet, springwater and well). The system presented a minicolumn packed with DAPPS, where the sample solution was passed through it for a period of time, and subsequently, an eluent solution, stripped-out the retained analyte which was further determined with DDTC at 460 nm. The better preconcentration conditions utilized were: 120s loading, 60s elution, 30s regeneration of the column, loading flow rate 6.5 ml min(-1), buffer solution for the preconcentration and regeneration of the column-borate buffer pH 8.5, elution flow rate 2.3 ml min(-1), time of elution 60s, eluent composition, 0.4 mol l(-1) HNO(3). Under these conditions, the preconcentration factor obtained was 36, and the detection limit achieved was 8.4 ng ml(-1) in water samples and 0.84 microg g(-1) in biological material. The maximum adsorption capacity of DAPPS to Cu(2+) was 0.49 mmol g(-1) (31.1 mg g(-1)) obtained in a batch system. The recovery of copper in the water samples ranged from 96.9 to 102.4% and in the biological materials ranged from 97.0 to 102.6%.     

Determination of trace metals in waters and compost by on-line precipitation coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry or ion chromatography

A general rapid on-line preconcentration method for the determination of trace metals coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) or ion chromatography (IC) with spectrophotometric detection is described. The method is based on the on-line precipitation of metal hydroxides with sodium hydroxide and their dissolution in a small volume of nitric acid solution. All the chemical and physical variables that affect the efficiency of metal precipitation and elution in the flow injection system have been studied. The detection limits obtained by FAAS are 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.5 mug l(-1) for Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb, respectively. When the on-line precipitation is coupled to IC with post-column derivatization with the spectrophotometric reagent 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR), the detection limits are 3, 1, 5, 3, and 3 mug l(-1) for Cu, Zn, Ni, Co and Mn, respectively. The proposed general method was successfully applied to determine independently the above mentioned metals in compost and tap and river water samples.     

Reversed phase StrataTM-X resin as sorbent for automatic on-line solid phase extraction atomic absorption spectrometric determination of trace metals: comparison of polymeric-based sorbent materials

A novel on-line flow injection solid phase extraction method for the preconcentration of trace toxic metals prior determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-SPE-FAAS) was developed. The potential application of the hydrophobic reversed phase co-polymer sorbent Strata^TM-X packed into an on-line microcolumn for the quantification of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) was demonstrated for the first time. The method was based on the on-line formation of metal complexes using sodium diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DDTC) and on the subsequent retention of them onto the sorbent material. The target analytes were completely eluted by methanol and, subsequently, directed to FAAS for quantification. All chemical and flow variables affecting the performance of the developed method were thoroughly studied and optimised. For a preconcentration time of 90 s and a sampling frequency of 28 h^?1, enhancement factors of 72, 140, 185, 63 and detection limits of 0.18, 1.6, 0.20 and 1.2 μg L ^?1 were obtained for Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI), respectively. The accuracy of the FI-SPE-FAAS method was evaluated by analysing certified reference materials as well as spiked environmental water samples. Furthermore, a comparative study of the analytical characteristics, the properties as well as the chemical structures of commercial polymeric based sorbent materials was employed. Strata-X sorbent was compared against Hypersep^TM SCX, Bond Elut® Plexa^TM PCX, Oasis-HLB^TM and Nobias^TM PA-1, regarding the adaptation in on-line FI-SPE-FAAS systems for metal determination, and herein presented.     

Application of Doehlert designs for optimisation of an on-line preconcentration system for copper determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present paper, a system for on-line preconcentration and determination of copper by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. It was based on solid phase extraction of copper(II) ions on a minicolumn of Amberlite XAD-2 loaded with 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-5-dimethylaminophenol (TAM). The optimisation process was carried out using Doehlert designs. Four variables (sampling flow rate, SR; elution flow rate, buffer concentration, BC; and pH) were regarded as factors in the optimisation. The parameter “sensitivity efficiency (SE)” proposed in this paper, and defined as the analytical signal obtained for an on-line enrichment system for a preconcentration time of 1 min was used as analytical response in the optimisation process. Using the established experimental conditions, the proposed on-line system allowed determination of copper with detection limit (3σ/S) of 0.23 μg l⁻¹, and a precision (repeatability), calculated as relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 3.9 and 3.7% for copper concentration of 5.00 and 20.00 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The preconcentration factor obtained is 62. The recovery achieved for copper determination in presence of several cations demonstrated that this has enough selectivity for analysis of food samples. The robustness of the proposed system was also evaluated. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of the following certified reference materials (CRMs): Rice flour NIES 10a, Spinach leaves NIST 1570a, Apples leaves NIST 1515 and Orchard leaves NBS 1571. This procedure was applied for copper determination in natural food samples.     

Flame AAS determination of lead in water with flow-injection preconcentration and speciation using functionalized cellulose sorbent

The on-line solid phase extraction of trace amount of lead in flow-injection system with flame AAS detection was investigated using cellulose sorbents with phosphonic acid and carboxymethyl groups, C(18) sorbent non-modified and modified with Pyrocatechol Violet or 8-quinolinol, commercial chelating sorbents Chelex 100 and Spheron Oxin 1000, non-polar sorbent Amberlite XAD-2 modified with Pyrocatechol Violet and several cation-exchange resins. The best dynamic characteristics of retention were observed for functionalized cellulose sorbents. For Cellex P assumed as optimum sorbent, elution with a separate fractions of nitric acid and ethanol allows the differentiation between tetraalkyllead and sum of inorganic lead and organolead species of smaller number of alkyl groups. The detection limit for the determination of inorganic Pb(II) was estimated as 0.17 microg/l. at preconcentration from 50 ml sample at a flow rate of 7 ml/min.     

Spectrophotometric detection of arsenic using flow-injection hydride generation following sorbent extraction preconcentration

An automated system with a C(18) bonded silica gel packed minicolumn is proposed for spectrophotometric detection of arsenic using flow-injection hydride generation following sorbent extraction preconcentration. Complexes formed between arsenic(III) and ammonium diethyl dithiophosphate (ADDP) are retained on a C(18) sorbent. The eluted As-DDP complexes are merged with a 1.5% (w/v) NaBH(4) and the resulting solution is thereafter injected into the hydride generator/gas-liquid separator. The arsine generated is carried out by a stream of N(2) and trapped in an alkaline iodine solution in which the analyte is determined by the arsenomolybdenum blue method. With preconcentration time of 120 s, calibration in the 5.00-50.0 mug As l(-1) range and sampling rate of about 20 samples h(-1) are achieved, corresponding to 36 mg ADDP plus 36 mg ammonium heptamolybdate plus 7 mg hydrazine sulfate plus 0.7 mg stannous chloride and about 7 ml sample consumed per determination. The detection limit is 0.06 mug l(-1) and the relative standard deviation (n=12) for a typical 17.0 mug As l(-1) sample is ca. 6%. The accuracy was checked for arsenic determination in plant materials from the NIST (1572 citrus leaves; 1573 tomato leaves) and the results were in agreement with the certified values at 95% confidence level. Good recoveries (94-104%) of spiked tap waters, sugars and synthetic mixtures of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic were also found.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cobalt in biological samples and natural waters using a flow injection system with on-line preconcentration by ion-pair adsorption in a knotted reactor

An on-line flow injection preconcentration-ETAAS method is developed for trace determination of cobalt in biological materials and natural samples by ion-pair sorption on the inner walls of a PTFE knotted reactor. The ion-pair is formed between the negatively charged cobalt-nitroso-R-salt complex and the tetrabutylammonium counter-ion. An enhancement factor of 15, a sampling frequency of 17 and a concentration efficiency of 4 are obtained for a preconcentration time of 60 s and a sample loading flow rate of 5 mL min(-1). The detection limit (3sigma) is 5 ng L(-1). The relative standard deviation at the 0.2 microg L(-1) level is 2.3%. The analytical results obtained for standard reference materials are in good agreement with the certified or indicated values and satisfactory recoveries of spiked cobalt in tap water are obtained.     

Determination of gold in ore by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with flow-injection on-line sorbent extraction preconcentration

Gold in ores was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following on-line preconcentration by sorbent extraction in a flow-injection system. The medium polarity adsorption resin Amberlite XAD-8 packed in a 220-μl micro-column was used to collect gold(III) from hydrochloric acid sample solutions for 40 s at 7.6 ml/min. Ethanol was used to elute the adsorbed analytes into the nebulizer. Optimization studies were made on sample loading rate, elution rate and sample acidity. Some possible interferences on the determination are discussed. A 35-fold enrichment was achieved at a sampling frequency of 60 h^?1 and with an RSD of 1.4%. The detection limit (3σ) and 2 μg l^?1. Results for gold in ore samples showed good agreement with those obtained using activated carbon adsorption preconcentration. The recoveries were 97–108%.     

Flow injection on-line solid phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for determination of (Ultra)trace rare earth elements in environmental materials using maleic acid grafted polytetrafluoroethylene fibers as sorbent

A new sorbent, maleic acid grafted polytetrafluoroethylene fiber (MA-PTFE), was prepared and evaluated for on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for fast, selective, and sensitive determination of (ultra)trace rare earth elements (REEs) in environmental samples. The REEs in aqueous samples at pH = 3.0 were selectively extracted onto a microcolumn packed with the MA-PTFE fiber, and the adsorbed REEs were subsequently eluted on-line with 0.9 mol l(-1) HNO3 for ICP-MS determination. The new sorbent extraction system allows effective preconcentration and separation of the REEs from the major matrix constituents of alkali and alkali earth elements, particularly their separation from barium that produces considerable isobaric interferences of 134Ba16O1H+, 135Ba16O+, 136Ba16O1H+, and 137Ba16O+ on 151Eu+ and 153Eu+. With the use of a sample loading flow rate of 7.4 ml min(-1) for 120 s preconcentration, enhancement factors of 69-97 and detection limits (3s) of 1-20 pg l(-1) were achieved at a sample throughput of 22 samples h(-1). The precision (RSD) for 16 replicate determinations of 50 ng l(-1) of REEs was 0.5-1.1%. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of (ultra)trace REEs in sediment, soil, and seawater samples.     

Flow injection on-line preconcentration of low levels of Cr(VI) with detection by ETAAS: Comparison of using an open tubular PTFE knotted reactor and a column reactor packed with PTFE beads

A flow injection (FI) on-line sorption preconcentration procedure utilizing a packed column reactor and combined with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is proposed for the determination of low levels of Cr(VI) in water samples. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) beads packed in a mini-column is used as sorbent material. The complex formed between Cr(VI) and ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) is sorbed on the PTFE beads, and is subsequently eluted by an air-monosegmented discrete zone of absolute ethanol (35 μl), the analyte being quantified by ETAAS.The preconcentration procedure using the proposed column significantly enhances the preconcentration efficiency as compared with the preconcentration approach incorporating an open tubular PTFE knotted reactor (KR). Comparing the two procedure for equal surface sorption area, the advantages of using a packed column are observed in terms of limit of detection, enrichment factor and retention efficiency. With a preconcentration time of 60 s, and a sample flow rate of 5.0 ml l⁻¹, the enrichment factor (30.1) and the retention efficiency (24.1%) were doubled, yielding a detection limit (3σ) as low as 8.8 ng l⁻¹. The sample frequency was 16.7 h⁻¹. The concentration efficiency was 8.38 and the precision was 1.05% at 0.5 μg l⁻¹ of Cr(VI). The proposed column has been applied successfully to the analysis of natural water and synthetic seawater. Its performance was verified by the analysis of two certified Cr(VI)-reference materials and by recovery measurements on spiked samples.     

Modification of nonionic adsorbent with eriochrome blue-black R for selective nickel(II) preconcentration in conventional and flow-injection atomic-absorption spectrometry

Chemical modification of nonionic sorbent Amberlite XAD-2 or anion exchanger Amberlyst A-26 with Eriochrome Blue-Black R (EBBR) produces a chelating resin of satisfactory chemical stability and resistance towards mineral acids. Retention of 10 metal ions has been examined for both resins. EBBR loaded XAD-2 was utilized for nickel(II) preconcentration in atomic-absorption spectrometry. In optimal conditions at a preconcentration time not exceeding 1 hr, nickel(II) can be determined at the 0.1 mug/l. level in flow measurements. Retention of metal ions on chelating resin is a convenient method of preconcentration and elimination of matrix interferences.     

Preconcentration of trace amounts of manganese from natural waters by means of a macroreticular poly(dithiocarbamate) resin

A chelating poly(dithiocarbamate) resin (PDTC) with macroreticular support is characterized as effective collector for traces of manganese from natural waters. Using small PDTC columns preconcentration of manganese can be achieved even at high flow-rates (5-6 ml/min) and sample volumes (1500 ml). Accordingly, PDTC resin is used for the preconcentration of manganese from water samples prior to its determination by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry. A series of ions abundant in natural waters do not interfere. The sensitivity and detection limit were 2.5 and 0.5 mug/l., respectively. The relative standard deviations of the results for a manganese concentration of 40-400 mug/l. are in the range 1.1-6.2%. In mineral and tap waters analysed, the manganese concentration range was between 2.9 and 30.8 mug/l.