Comparison of the cold vapor generation using NaBH4 and SnCl2 as reducing agents and atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of Hg with a microstrip microwave induced argon plasma exiting from the wafer

A 2.45 GHz low power microwave microstrip plasma (MSP) exiting the wafer and operated with Ar at atmospheric pressure was used for the optical emission spectrometric determination of Hg with the aid of a miniaturized optical fiber spectrometer with a CCD detector and the cold vapor (CV) generation technique using NaBH₄ and SnCl₂ as reductants. The experimental conditions were optimized with respect to the relative intensity of the Hg I 253.6 nm line and its signal-to-background intensity ratio (SBR). So as to understand the results of the optimization experiments, the excitation temperatures as measured from Ar I lines (T _exc) and the electron number densities (n _e) for the Ar MSP loaded with Hg vapors were determined and found to be in the range from 5500 to 6300 K and from 1.4 to 2.0 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻³, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limit for Hg of the CV-MSP-OES using SnCl₂ as the reducing agent was found to be much lower (0.11 ng mL⁻¹) than in the case where NaBH₄ was used (9 ng mL⁻¹). The linearity range was found to be up to 1 μg mL⁻¹ while the precision was of the order of 0.7–5%. The procedure with SnCl₂ as reductant was used for the determination of Hg at a concentration of 0.2 μg mL⁻¹ in synthetic water samples containing 1 to 4% (m/v) of NaCl with an accuracy of 3% as well as in a solution of the domestic sludge standard reference material (NIST SRM 2781) with a certified concentration for Hg of 3.64 ± 0.25 μg g⁻¹ for which 3.55 ± 0.41 μg g⁻¹ was found. Correspondence: J. A. C. Broekaert, Institut für Anorganische und Angewandte Chemie, Universit?t Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany     

Microdialysis sampling and chemiluminescence detection for in vivo and real-time study of the lead metabolism in rabbit blood

The chemiluminescence (CL) system K₂MnO₄-luminol is shown to be useful for the determination of lead(II). The method is based on the catalytic effect of Pb(II) on the CL reaction. The linear range was 3 × 10⁻³–9 × 10⁻¹ mg L⁻¹ (r = 0.9971) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 5 × 10⁻² mg L⁻¹ Pb(II) measurement was 0.7% (n = 11). The detection limit was 3 × 10⁻⁴ mg L⁻¹ (3σ) Pb(II). Based on this, an in vivo, on-line, real-time analytical system for monitoring the metabolism of free lead(II) in rabbit blood was developed. A microdialysis probe, implanted in the vein of a rabbit, was perfused with perfusate at a flow rate of 5 μL min⁻¹. The concentration of free lead(II) in the dialysate was determined on-line with a flow-injection CL system. This system included microdialysis sampling, on-line separation and chemiluminescence detection. The concentration-time curve of lead(II) was in accordance with the one-compartmental open model, T_1/2 (elimination half-life), T_max (peak time) and C_max (peak concentration) were 37.77 min, 85.20 min and 0.137 mg L⁻¹, respectively.     

HPLC determination of cefotaxime and cephalexine residues in milk and cephalexine in veterinary formulation

An HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of the cephalosporins cefotaxime and cephalexine in skimmed bovine milk. The analytical column, Kromasil C₁₈ (250 mm × 4.0 mm, 5 μm) was operated at ambient temperature. Mobile phase consisted of CH₃OH-acetate buffer (pH = 4.0) and it was delivered isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min⁻¹. Total analysis time was less than 5 min. Caffeine was used as internal standard (5 ng · μL⁻¹). UV detection was performed at 265 nm. Method validation was performed by means of intra-day (n = 5) and inter-day accuracy and precision (n = 8), sensitivity and linearity. Limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.1 and 0.3 ng · μL⁻¹, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of a veterinary drug (CEPOREX) containing cephalexine. The results were quite accurate with the relative error varying from −8.0 to −3.5%. Solid-phase extraction was applied to remove all matrix interference from milk samples. High extraction recoveries (average 84–121%) were achieved by using Abselut NEXUS cartridges with acetonitrile as eluent and a rinsing step with water and n-butanol. A pre-concentration step was necessary in a 1/10 level to reach the EU MRL concentration level (100 μg · kg⁻¹). RSD values were less than 7% for both cephalosporins. Correspondence: Ioannis N. Papadoyannis, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece     

Studies on the Efficiency of Hydrogen Selenide Generation with Different Acid Media by Continuous Flow Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The efficiency of hydrogen selenide generation by HCl, HBr, H₂SO₄, HClO₄ and HNO₃ was studied with varying NaBH₄ concentrations by continuous flow hydride generation AAS. HBr showed higher efficiency (≈20%) than the conventionally used HCl. The optimum concentration of reagents were 5 M HBr, with 0.5% NaBH₄ and 6 M HCl with 1% NaBH₄. The efficiency followed the order HBr>HCl>HClO₄>H₂SO₄>HNO₃. The sensitivity and detection limits were 0.16 μg L⁻¹ and 0.15 μg L⁻¹ with HBr, and, 0.19 μg L⁻¹ and 0.17 μg L⁻¹ with HCl. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 2–25 μg L⁻¹ for both the acids. Se⁶⁺ was reduced to Se⁴⁺ in 1 M HCl with the addition of solid KBr (4% final solution) with 60 minutes heating at 70 °C and compared to the commonly used 6 M HCl with 15 minutes boiling. Pre-reduction with KBr showed signal enhancement by 5 to 10% in the range 2–25 μg L⁻¹ of Se⁴⁺. The application of the method to SRM 1640 demonstrated that results were in good agreement with the certified values. Groundwater samples from a suburban area were analyzed and reported.     

An Electrode-Separated Piezoelectric Sensor as a Surface Monitoring Technique for Anionic Surfactant Adsorption on Quartz Surface

 In the configuration of an electrode-separated piezoelectric sensor (ESPS), the quartz crystal surface is in a direct contact with the liquid phase. With the pre-adsorption of Ca²⁺ as the ionic bridge, anionic surfactant can adsorb on the negatively charged quartz surface (pH > 2.0). The adsorption process of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) was monitored in real time with the ESPS method. It was shown that the adsorption of SDBS on quartz surface by Ca²⁺ inducement was reversible with respective to the dilution of solution phase. The adsorption behavior can be analyzed using Langmuir model. The adsorption and desorption rate constants were estimated to be k _a  = (108.4 ± 6.4) mol⁻¹L s⁻¹ and k _d  = (2.57 ± 0.32) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively. The observed adsorption densities in the ESPS method were significantly greater than the true ones. The influence on surface roughness of the quartz disc on adsorption densities should be corrected by adding a calibration coefficient in the Sauerbrey equation. The saturation adsorption density is 0.223 μg/cm² for SDBS on quartz surface. Double layer occurs for the adsorption of SDBS on quartz surface. Received July 25, 2001. Revision September 17, 2001.     

Capillary electrophoresis detection scheme for vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 based on the potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) chemiluminescence system

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) detection scheme for the simultaneous determination of vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 has been developed. After being separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE), the analytes were determined by direct CL of vitamin B1 and vitamin B2-potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) in alkaline aqueous solution. Parameters affecting CE-CL separation and detection, such as the pH value and the concentration of electrolyte and K₃[Fe(CN)₆] were optimized. Vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 are completely resolved with migration times shorter than 5 min. Under the optimal conditions, a linear range from 0.04 to 50, 0.08 to 90 μg mL⁻¹ and a detection limit of 0.01, 0.03 μg mL⁻¹ (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) for vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 respectively, were achieved. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ of vitamin B1 and 0.8 μg mL⁻¹ of vitamin B2 (n = 11) were 2.9 and 3.7%, respectively. The applicability of the method was examined for the analysis of pharmaceutical tablets. Correspondence: Juan Bai, Physical Education and Human Kinesiology Department, University of Science and Technology of Qingdao, Qingdao 266042, China     

Flow injection micelle-mediated methodology for determination of lead by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and sensitive flow injection micelle-mediated method was developed for the determination of trace Pb by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric (ET-AAS). The formation of the analyte-entrapped surfactant micelles by online merging of the analyte solution with O,O-diethyldithiophosphate solution and Triton X-114 solution sequentially, the adsorption of the resultant analyte-entrapped surfactant micelles onto a microcolumn packed with silica gel. The adsorbed analyte was then eluted with methanol and determined by ET-AAS. With consumption of 6.0 mL sample solution, a detection limit of 0.016 μg L⁻¹, and a concentration factor of 21.6 were obtained at a sample throughput of 20 h⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 5.1% (c = 2.0 ng mL⁻¹, n = 7). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of trace Pb in water sample with recoveries ranging from 94.0 to 99.0%. The certified reference material was also analyzed for validation, and the determined value obtained was in good agreement with the certified value.     

Determination of trace amounts of cadmium and copper by atomic absorption spectrometry after simultaneous extraction and preconcentration using a new water-soluble polyacrylic acid/alumina sorbent

An analytical method using alumina modified with water-soluble polyacrylic acid polymer for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of trace Cu and Cd in a column system, and their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. The conditions for coating Al₂O₃ with polyacrylic acid were optimized, then the column was packed with 50 mg of this sorbent. Cd and Cu solution was passed through a glass column at pH 4.5, and elution was carried out with 5 mL of 0.05 M HCl at a flow rate of 1 mL min⁻¹. A sorption capacity of 10 mg Cu and 12 mg Cd was obtained for 1 g sorbent. The detection limit was calculated as 4.5 μg L⁻¹ for Cu and 1.54 μg L⁻¹ for Cd in the final solution. Enrichment factors of 300 for Cd and 400 for Cu were obtained.     

A novel kinetic determination of nitrite based on the perphenazine-bromate redox reaction

An extremely sensitive and selective kinetic method was developed for the determination of trace levels of nitrite based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of perphenazine (PPZ) with bromate in a phosphoric acid medium. The reaction rate was monitored spectrophotometrically by tracing the formation of the red-colored oxidized product of PPZ at 525 nm within 30 sec of mixing. The optimum reaction conditions were 4.0 μmol L⁻¹ PPZ, 0.4 mol L⁻¹ H₃PO₄ and 30 mmol L⁻¹ bromate at 25 °C. Using the recommended procedure, nitrite could be determined with a linear calibration graph up to 4.50 ng mL⁻¹ and a detection limit of 0.07 ng mL⁻¹. The method was conveniently applied to the determination of nitrite in samples of rain, polluted well and formulated waste waters. Moreover, the published kinetic spectrophotometric methods for nitrite determination are reviewed.     

Flow Injection Spectrophotometric Determination of Iodide in Environmental Samples

 An alternative and simple flow injection spectrophotometric analysis method for the determination of iodide in environmental samples is reported. The method is based on the catalytic destruction of the colour of the Fe(III)–SCN⁻–CP⁺–_nBP_y quarternary complex. The complex shows maximum absorption at 495 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity of the complex in terms of iodide is (6.22) × 10⁵ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The detection limit of the method is 0.1 ng ml⁻¹ of iodide. The method obeys Beer’s law up to 120 μg l⁻¹ with slope, intercept and correlation coefficient of 0.11, − 0.52 and + 0.99, respectively. Various flow injection analysis parameters for the determination of iodide in the environmental samples were optimized. The sample throughput of the method is 60 samples h⁻¹. The method was successfully useful for the determination of trace level of iodide in environmental samples i.e. ground, surface water. Received November 12, 2001; accepted April 2, 2002; published online July 22, 2002     

Determination of glucose by affinity adsorption solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry based on concanavalin agglutinin labeled with fluorescein using 1.5-generation dendrimers as sensitizer

In the presence of the heavy atom perturber Pb(Ac)₂, fluorescein (HFin) can emit strong and stable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) on the surface of a nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) at λ_ex ^max/λ_em ^max = 480/648 nm. It can be spiked with the 1.5-generation polyamidoamine dendrimers (abbreviated: D-1.5) to emit stronger RTP. It was found that a quantitative specific affinity adsorption (AA) reaction between concanavalin agglutinin (abbreviated: Con A) labeled with D-1.5-HFin and N-acetylglucosamine (G) could be carried out on the surface of NCM. The product of the reaction (D-1.5-HFin- Con A-G) could emit strong and stable RTP, and the ΔI_p was proportional to the content of G. According to the above facts, a new method for determination of G by affinity adsorption solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry (AA-SS-RTP) was established, based on Con A labeled with fluorescein using D-1.5 dendrimers molecules as sensitizer. The linear range of the sandwich method was 0.040–60 pg G spot⁻¹ (corresponding concentration range: 0.10–150 ng mL⁻¹; sample volume: 0.40 μL spot⁻¹). The regression equation of the working curve was ΔI_p = 6.880 + 5.610 m_G pg spot⁻¹, r = 0.9987. The working solutions containing 0.10 and 150 ng mL⁻¹ G were determined repeatedly 11 times, respectively. The corresponding RSDs were 2.9 and 3.8%. The detection limit of this method calculated by 3Sb/k was 0.021 pg spot⁻¹ (5.2 × 10⁻¹¹ g mL⁻¹). Compared with the direct method (detection limit: 0.078 pg spot⁻¹, linear range: 0.40–40 pg G spot⁻¹), the sensitivity was obviously improved and the linear range was wider. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of G in human plasma, as well as to the supervision and forecast of human diseases, for it is of good sensitivity, accuracy and precision. Correspondence: Jia-Ming Liu, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Zhangzhou Normal College, Zhangzhou 363000, P.R. China     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine at an ionic liquid modified carbon paste electrode and its analytical application

A room-temperature ionic liquid N-butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate was used as a binder to construct an ionic liquid modified carbon paste electrode, which was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The ionic liquid carbon paste electrode (IL-CPE) showed enhanced electrochemical response and strong analytical activity towards the electrochemical oxidation of dopamine (DA). A pair of well-defined quasireversible redox peaks of DA appeared, with the redox peaks located at 215 mV (E _pa) and 151 mV (E _pc) (vs. the saturated calomel electrode, SCE) in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer solution. The formal potential (E ^0′) was calculated as 183 mV (vs. SCE) and the peak-to-peak separation as 64 mV. The electrochemical behavior of DA on the IL-CPE was carefully investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the anodic peak currents increased linearly with the concentration of DA in the range 1.0 × 10⁻⁶–8.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L and the detection limit was calculated as 7.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L (3σ). The interferences of foreign substances were investigated and the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of DA injection samples. The IL-CPE fabricated was sensitive, selective and showed good ability to distinguish the coexisting ascorbic acid and uric acid.     

Catalytic Spectrophotometric Determination of Molybdenum

Summary.  A highly selective, sensitive, and simple catalytic method for the determination of molybdenum in natural and waste waters was developed. It is based on the catalytic effect of Mo(VI) on the oxidation of 2-aminophenol with H₂O₂. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by tracing the oxidation product at 430 nm after 10 min of mixing the reagents. Addition of 800 μg · cm⁻³ EDTA conferred high selectivity; however, interfering effects of Au(III), Cr(III), Cr(VI), and Fe(III) had to be eliminated by a reduction and co-precipitation procedure with SnCl₂ and Al(OH)₃. Mo(VI) shows a linear calibration graph up to 11.0 ng · cm⁻³; the detection limit, based on the 3S _b-criterion, is 0.10 ng · cm⁻³. The unique selectivity and sensitivity of the new method allowed its direct application to the determination of Mo(VI) in natural and waste waters. Received April 11, 2001. Accepted (revised) June 18, 2001     

A resonance light scattering method for determination of DNA using Ru(bpy)2PIP(V)2+

A novel method for DNA detection is proposed that is based on the enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) of Ru(bpy)₂PIP(V)²⁺ at pH 2.7. Under optimum conditions, good linear relationships were obtained in the wide concentration range of 16–5120 ng mL⁻¹. The linear equation is I _RLS = 13.15 + 171.4 c (μg mL⁻¹), the correlation coefficient (r) is 0.9999. The detection limit of calf thymus DNA is 5.02 ng mL⁻¹. Plasmid DNA extracted from bacillus subtilis was determined by the method with satisfactory results.     

Application of multivariate techniques for optimization of direct method for determination of lead in naphtha and petroleum condensate by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A direct method is proposed for the determination of lead in naphtha and petroleum condensate by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) using palladium as a permanent modifier. The procedure includes the dilution of 3 mL of sample (naphtha or petroleum condensate) to a final volume of 10 mL with xylene, and direct injection of 30 μL of this solution into the graphite furnace. The optimization of the instrumental conditions was performed using multivariate techniques. Firstly, a 2³ full factorial design was performed for preliminary evaluation of the factors: pyrolysis time, pyrolysis temperature and atomization temperature. This experiment showed that in the studied levels only the factors pyrolysis time and atomization temperature were significant. Then, a 3² full factorial design was performed for the determination of the critical conditions of these variables. The method allows the determination of lead using the standard calibration technique with a calibration curve from 2.6 to 30 μg L⁻¹ (correlation coefficient higher than 0.998). A limit of detection (3σ) of 0.8 μg L⁻¹ and a characteristic mass of 35 pg were obtained in the presence of palladium as modifier. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.5 and 0.8% for lead concentrations of 3.0 and 30 μg L⁻¹ (n = 10). Recovery studies demonstrate that lead can be determined in naphtha and petroleum condensate using calibration with organic standard solutions. This method was applied for the determination of lead in three petroleum condensate and two naphtha samples. The concentrations found for the petroleum condensate was between 2.7 and 5.7 μg L⁻¹, while the naphtha samples did not contain any detectable lead.     

Adsorption of 1-pentanol on bismuth single-crystal plane electrodes

Cyclic voltammetry, impedance and chronocoulometry have been employed for the quantitative study of 1-pentanol (n-PenOH) adsorption at the bismuth single-crystal plane | aqueous Na₂SO₄ solution interface. The adsorption isotherms, Gibbs energies of adsorption ΔG _A ^∘, the limiting surface excess Γ_max and other adsorption parameters, dependent on the crystallographic structure of the electrodes, have been determined. The adsorption of n-PenOH on Bi single-crystal planes is mainly physical and is limited by the rate of diffusion of organic molecules to the electrode surface. Comparison of the adsorption data for n-PenOH with 1-propanol (n-PrOH), 1-butanol (n-BuOH), cyclohexanol (CH) and 1-hexanol (n-HexOH) shows that the adsorption characteristics depend on the structure of the hydrocarbon group. The adsorption activity of adsorbates at the bismuth | solution interface increases in the sequence n-PrOH < n-BuOH < CH ≤ n-PenOH < n-HA as the adsorption activity at the air | solution interface increases. For all the compounds studied, the adsorption activity increases in the sequence of planes (111)<(001)<(011ˉ). Received: 1 July 1998 / Accepted: 2 October 1998     

Fluorometric determination of DNA using nano-SiO2 particles as an effective dispersant and stabilizer for acridine orange

A sensitive fluorometric method for the determination of ctDNA (calf thymus DNA) is presented. It has good selectivity and sensitivity and uses nano-SiO₂ particles as an effective dispersant and stabilizer for acridine orange (AO). Compared to resonance light scattering (RLS) and the conventional method that uses organic dyes as fluorescence probe, the new method is more tolerant towards coexisting foreign substances and also more stable. With 20 mg nano-SiO₂ particles, 10 μmol L⁻¹ AO, at pH 8.01 and an ionic strength of 0.02 mol L⁻¹, the interaction of AO with nano-SiO₂ and ctDNA results in fluorescent signal enhancement. The extent of enhancement was in good proportion to the concentration of ctDNA at excitation/emission wavelengths of 490/523 nm, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over 0.66–55.60 μg mL⁻¹. The determination limit (3σ) was 15 μg mL⁻¹. The method was applied to the determination of ctDNA in synthetic samples with satisfactory results.     

New Colorimetric Methods for the Determination of Indapamide and its Formulations

 Two simple and sensitive methods for the determination of indapamide in pure and in dosage forms are developed. These methods are based on the oxidation of indapamide with iron(III) in acidic medium. The liberated iron(II) reacts with 1,10-phenanthroline (Method A) and the ferroin complex is colorimetrically measured at λ_max 509 nm against reagent blank. Method B is based on the reduction of Fe(III) by the drug. Iron(II) forms a colored complex (λ_max 522 nm) with 2,2′-bipyridyl. Optimization of the experimental conditions is described. Beer’s law is obeyed in the concentration range 1.0–12 μg ml⁻¹ and 4.0–18 μ g ml⁻¹ for A and B, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell sensitivity for method A is 3 × 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 0.0188 μ g cm⁻², while for method B is 2.3 × 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 0.0159 μg cm⁻². The detection and quantification limits are calculated. The developed methods are applied successfully for the determination of indapamide in pure and in tablet form without interference from common excepients. Received November 10, 2000. Revision April 6, 2001.     

Highly sensitive determination of trace potassium ion in serum using the resonance light scattering technique with sodium tetraphenylboron

A resonance light scattering technique has been developed in order to determine potassium ion in serum. Potassium ion was found to bind the tetraphenylboronate anion [(C₆H₅)₄B]⁻ in acetate buffer (pH 8.0) in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate as a stabilizer, forming the B(C₆H₅)₄-K aggregate which produces intense resonance scattering light. Effects of factors such as acidity, ionic strength and interferents on the RLS of B(C₆H₅)₄-K were investigated. The solution pH close to neutral facilitates the production of RLS, and few biologically relevant species interfere in the determination of potassium ion. The resonance scattering light intensity at the maximum peak of 567 nm was linear to the concentration of potassium ion in the range of 0.2–2.0 μg mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 20.0 ng mL⁻¹. The method was applied to determine trace amounts of potassium ion in serum and showed high sensitivity and accuracy compared with the clinically used ion-selective electrode method.     

Evaluation of different rhodium modifiers and coatings on the simultaneous determination of As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Se and of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn in milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Different kinds of modifiers and coatings on the integrated platform of transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) have been tested for the simultaneous determination of two group of elements: the first, the more volatile, formed by arsenic, bismuth, lead, antimony and selenium; the second, the less volatile, formed by cobalt, chromium, cupper, iron and manganese in milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Different Rh-modifiers were studied, such as Rh-coated platforms (Rh), carbide plus rhodium coated platforms (W-Rh, Zr-Rh), carbide-coated platforms (W and Zr) with co-injection of RhCl₃, solutions and uncoated platforms with injection of solutions of Pd(NO₃)₂, Mg(NO₃)₂, and RhCl₃. Milk samples were diluted 1:10 in 1.0% HNO₃ and injected into the tube. The mass of modifier deposited and co-injected in the tube and the use of end capped tubes were also evaluated in order to improve the electrothermal behavior of analytes. Integrated platform pretreated with W plus co-injection RhCl₃ for first group and pretreated with W-Rh for second group were elected. For 20 μL injected samples the analytical curves in the 5.0–20.0 μg L⁻¹ concentration range have good linear correlation coefficients (r > 0.998). Relative standard deviations (n = 12) are <6% and the calculated characteristic masses are between 5 pg and 62 pg. Correspondence: Gian Paulo G. Freschi, Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, PO Box 332, 79.804-970, Dourados-MS, Brazil; Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, PO Box 355, 14801-970 Araraquara-SP, Brazil