Determination of lead in whole blood with a simple flow-injection system and computerized stripping potentiometry

An automated (24 samples/hour) procedure is described for the determination of lead (0–1000 μg l^?1) in human blood based on flow-injection stripping potentiometry. The samples are diluted 20-fold with 0.5 M hydrochloric acid containing 100 mg l^?1 mercury and 40 μg l^?1 cadmium (II), and a 1.1 ml aliquot is injected into the flow system. With a mercury-coated carbon fibre as working electrode, lead (II) is determined by using cadmium (II) as internal standard and a calibration graph prepared from bovine blood. Analyses of two human blood reference samples yielded results of 335±37 and 691±24 μg l^?1 lead, the certified values being 332 and 663 μg l^?1, respectively.     

Stripping Potentiometry of Lead,Cadmium and Copper at a Nafion Coated Glassy Carbon Electrode with Encapsulated Mercury Acetate

Abstract

The stripping potentiometric determination of lead, cadmium and copper with mercury film glassy-carbon electrodes coated with a Nafion membrane was investigated. The mercury film was plated using either mercury(II) acetate encapsulated within the Nafion membrane or a mercury(II) solution. Dissolved dioxygen was used as the stripping agent. The electrodes showed promising properties, particularly robustness and response repeatability. A linear dependence of the stripping time on concentration was found in the μg l^?1 concentration range (s.d. of intercept ≤ 0.3 μg l^?1, r.s.d. of slope ≤ 1%, for both lead and cadmium).     

Complexometric determination of palladium(II) using thioacetamide as a selective masking agent

A simple, rapid and accurate complexometric method for the determination of palladium(II) is proposed, based on the selective masking property of thioacetamide towards palladium(II). In the presence of diverse metal ions, palladium(II) is complexed with excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is back titrated at pH 5-5.5 (acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer) with standard lead nitrate solution using xylenol orange as indicator. An excess of a 0.5% aqueous solution of thioacetamide is then added to displace EDTA from Pd(II)-EDTA complex. The released EDTA is titrated with the same standard lead nitrate solution as before. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained in the concentration range 0.5 mg - 17.80 mg of palladium with relative error of +/- 0.16% and coefficient of variation not exceeding 0.26%. The effect of diverse ions is studied. The method is used for the determination of palladium in its complexes, catalysts and synthetic alloy mixtures.     

Determination of palladium(II) using thiosemicarbazide as a replacing reagent

A simple, rapid, accurate, and selective complexometric method is proposed for the determination of palladium(II). Palladium(II), with associated diverse metal ions, is first complexed by adding a known excess of EDTA, and the uncomplexed EDTA is back titrated with lead nitrate solution in acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0–6.0) until the end-point. Thiosemicarbazide (1%) solution in water is added to displace EDTA from the Pd-EDTA complex. The released EDTA is then titrated with the lead nitrate solution. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained in the concentration range of 1–10 mg of palladium with a relative error of less than 0.4% and a standard deviation of less than 0.02. The interference of many commonly associated metal ions was also studied. Advantages of this method over other complexometric methods of palladium determination are high-lighted.     

Solid-phase extraction and determination of ultra trace amounts of lead,mercury and cadmium in water samples using octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and fast method for preconcentration and determination of ultra trace amounts of lead(II), mercury(II) and cadmium(II) in water samples is presented. Lead, mercury and cadmium adsorbed quantitatively during passage of water samples (pH?=?7, flow rate?=?20 mL min^?1) through octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The retained lead, mercury and cadmium are then stripped from the disk with a minimal amount of 1 M hydrochloric acid solution as eluent, and determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The influence of flow rates of the eluent and sample solution, the amount of ligand, type and least amount of eluent, pH of sample, effect of other ions and breakthrough volume are determined. The breakthrough volume of the method is greater than 2000 mL for lead and greater than 1500 mL for mercury and cadmium, which results in an enrichment factor of 200 for lead and an enrichment factor of 150 for both mercury and cadmium. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 177, 2 and 13 ng l^?1 for lead, mercury and cadmium, respectively.     

Selective complexometric determination of copper in ores and alloys using 2,2′-bipyridyl as masking agent

An EDTA titration method is described for the determination of copper(II) in the presence of other ions based on the selective masking ability of 2,2′-bipyridyl. Copper and other ions in a given sample solution are initially complexed with an excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is titrated with lead nitrate solution at pH 5.0–6.0 (hexamine), using xylenol orange as an indicator. A known excess of 2,2′-bipyridyl solution (1% in 50% alcohol) is then added, the mixture is shaken well and the released EDTA from the Cu–EDTA complex is titrated against standard lead nitrate solution. The interference of various ions are studied and the method is applied to the determination of copper in its ores and alloys. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained for 2.54–25.40 mg of copper with S.D. values <0.04 mg.     

Lead-selective electrodes based on lead(IV) oxide

Lead(IV) oxide electrodes are shown to give near-theoretical calibration slopes for lead(II) ions over the range 10^?3–10^?5 mol l^?1, and to have near-theoretical standard potentials in different acidic media. They are compared with lead sulphide-silver sulphide membrane electrodes and shown to be more tolerant of acidity and copper(II), mercury(II) and iron(III) ions. Iron(II) and manganese(II), however, interfere significantly. Some of the advantages of the lead(IV) oxide electrode are brought out in the determination of the solubility product of lead sulphate; implications for constructing phosphate- and sulphate-sensitive electrodes are mentioned.     

Complexometric determination of mercury(II) with 2-imidazolidinethione as a selective masking agent

A simple, rapid and selective complexometric method is proposed for the determination of mercury(II). Mercury(II) is first complexed with a known excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is back-titrated at pH 5.0-6.0 with lead nitrate, Xylenol Orange being used as indicator. 2-Imidazolidinethione is then added to displace EDTA from the Hg-EDTA complex quantitatively and the EDTA released is titrated with lead nitrate. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained for 2-75 mg of mercury, with a relative error of less than 0.3% and standard deviation of less than 0.04 mg.     

Complexo-titrimetric determination of mercury using hexahydropyrimidine-2-thione as a selective masking agent

A simple, rapid, accurate and selective complexometric method is proposed for the determina-tion of mercury(Ⅱ). Mercury(Ⅱ) is first complexed with a known excess of EDTA and the surplusEDTA is back-titrated at pH 5. 0--6. 0 with lead nitrate, xylenol orange being used as indicator. Hexa-hydropyrimidine-2-thione (HPT) is then added to displace EDTA from the Hg-EDTA complex quan-titatively and the EDTA released is titrated with lead nitrate. Reproducible and accurate results areobtained for 2--55 mg of mercury, with a relative error of less than 0. 5% and standard deviation ofless than 0.04.     

Complexometric determination of cadmium using 2-Mercaptoethanol as masking reagent

A complexometric method for the determination of cadmium(II) in presence of other metal ions is described based on the selective masking ability of 2-mercaptoethanol towards cadmium(II). Cadmium and other ions in a given sample solution are initially complexed with excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is titrated with lead nitrate solution at pH 5.0–6.0 (hexamethylentetramine), using xylenol orange as indicator. A known excess of 2-mercaptoethanol solution (10% alcoholic) is then added, the mixture is shaken well and the released EDTA from the Cd-EDTA complex is titrated against standard lead nitrate solution. The interferences of various ions are studied and the method is applied to the determination of cadmium in its complexes. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained for 3.5–25mg of Cd with relative errors 0.65% and standard deviations 0.06 mg.     

Indirect Complexometric Determination of Mercury(II) Using Potassium Bromide as Selective Masking Agent

 A complexometric method for the determination of mercury in presence of other metal ions based on the selective masking ability of potassium bromide towards mercury is described. Mercury(II) present in a given sample solution is first complexed with a known excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is titrated against zinc sulfate solution at pH 5–6 using xylenol orange as the indicator. A known excess of 10% solution of potassium bromide is then added and the EDTA released from Hg-EDTA complex is titrated against standard zinc sulfate solution. Reproducible and accurate results are obtained for 8 mg to 250 mg of mercury(II) with a relative error ± 0.28% and standard deviations ≤0.5 mg. The interference of various ions is studied. This method was applied to the determination of mercury(II) in its alloys. Received April 18, 2001 Revision October 10, 2001     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper as a dithiocarbamate by flow injection analysis

Copper(II) ions (1–20 mg l^?1) are determined at 385 nm by injection into an aqueous carrier solution containing EDTA (0.05 M), carbon disulphide (0.03%) and diethanolamine (0.1%) in aqueous ammonia solution (0.5%) adjusted to pH 8.0. Chromium(VI) and, to a minor extent, iron(III) interfere. In the absence of EDTA, cobalt, iron(II), nickel, and manganese ions interfere but the sensitivity to copper is higher.     

Determination of mercury traces by differential-pulse stripping voltammetry after sorption of mercury vapour on a gold-plated electrode

Trace mercury is reduced with tin(II) to mercury metal, which is volatilised by bubbling air through the solution. A certain fraction of this mercury is sorbed on a rotating gold disk electrode and stripped in a thiocyanate solution. The detection limit is about 30 ng Hg(II) in solution; the relative standard deviation is 6% for 100 ng Hg(II) (n = 7). The detection limit for mercury in air is 1.7 ng l^?1 with a preconcentration time of 10 min.     

Poly(acrylamide) grafts on spherical bead polymers for extremely selective removal of mercuric ions from aqueous solutions

Poly(acrylamide) grafted from solid polymer particles provides a simple solution for extremely selective removal of mercuric ions from aqueous solutions. The grafting of polyacrylamide has been performed, in high yields (164%), by redox initiation from iminoacetic acid groups created on crosslinked spherical beads (210–420 μm) of glycidyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate terpolymer. In the grafting, homopolymer formation has been reduced greatly (22%) by the treatment of the bead polymer with ceric ammonium nitrate before the addition of acrylamide monomer. The mobility of the graft chains provides nearly homogeneous reaction conditions and rapid mercury binding ability, as for low molecular weight amides [mercury sorption by a 0.105‐g polymer sample from 105 mL of a 7.74 × 10^?4 mol L^?1 (～155 ppm) Hg(II) solution shows first‐order kinetics with respect to the Hg(II) concentration, k = 1.1 × 10^?3 s^?1]. The mercury sorption capacity under nonbuffered conditions is around 3.6 mmol g^?1 (i.e., 720 g of mercury/kg) and mostly occurs with the formation of diamido–mercury linkages, which result in the crosslinking of polyacrylamide brushes outside the spherical beads. The crosslinks can be destroyed by treatment with hot acetic acid, without hydrolysis of the amide groups. This process allows a complete elution of the mercury as mercury acetate, and the overall result is reversible crosslinking of the outer shell by mercuric ions. The material presented is efficient in the removal of mercury at concentrations measured in parts per million, and the mercury sorption is extremely selective over some foreign ions, such as Fe(III), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3068–3078, 2002     

Indirect complexometric determination of cadmium(II) using 1,10-phenanthroline as selective masking agent

An indirect complexometric method is described for the determination of cadmium(II), 1,10-phenanthroline being used as masking agent. Cadmium(II) in a given sample solution is initially complexed with an excess of EDTA and the surplus EDTA is titrated with lead nitrate solution at pH 5.0–6.0 (hexamine), using xylenol orange as indicator. An excess of 1,10-phenanthroline is then added and the EDTA released from the Cd-EDTA complex is titrated with standard lead nitrate solution. Results are obtained for 1.5–57 mg of Cd with relative errors 0.90% and standard deviations 0.06 mg. Cu(II), Co(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Tl(III), Au(III) and Sn(IV) interfere, but can be easily masked. The method is applied for the determination of cadmium in synthetic alloy solutions.     

Complexometric Determination of Zinc(II) Using 2,2′-Bipyridyl as Selective Masking Agent

 An indirect complexometric method is described for the determination of zinc(II) using 2,2′-bipyridyl as masking agent. Zinc(II) in a given sample solution is initially complexed with an excess of EDTA and surplus EDTA is titrated with lead nitrate solution at pH 5.0–6.0 (hexamine), using xylenol orange as indicator. An excess of 2,2′-bipyridyl is then added, the mixture shaken well and the EDTA released from the Zn-EDTA complex is titrated with standard lead nitrate solution. Results are obtained for 3–39 mg of Zn with relative errors ≤ 0.5% and standard deviations ± 0.06 mg. The interference of various ions are studied. The method is applied for the determination of zinc in its alloys and ores. Received October 27, 1998. Revision June 10, 1999.     

Differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry of mercury with gold-film micro-electrodes

Cylindrical gold film micro-electrodes are easily produced by plasma-sputtering of gold onto carbon fiber electrodes. The micro-electrodes produced were found to maintain their cylindrical geometry indefinitely, unlike gold wire electrodes of similar dimensions. Application of these electrodes in differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry provides a method for quantifying trace levels of mercury(II). Up to 100 μg l^?1 Hg(II) the area of the mercury stripping peak varied linearly with mercury concentration; the detection limit was 3.7 μg l^?1. With more than 100 μg l^?1 Hg(II) a new mercury stripping peak grows in at less positive potentials; its peak height is linear with Hg(II) concentration.     

Determination of methylmercury in the presence of inorganic mercury by anodic stripping voltammetry

Methylmercury is determined in a non-complexing nitrate medium by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry at a gold film electrode, with a detection limit of 2 × 10^-8 mol l^-1 for 5-min plating times. A method of double standard additions is proposed for determining methylmercury in the presence of mercury(II) ions.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry at a nickel-based mercury film electrode

The electrochemical properties of the nickel-based mercury film electrode (Ni-MFE) were investigated with respect to application of the electrode in the anodic stripping voltammetry (a.s.v.) of heavy metal ions. The hydrogen overpotential at the Ni-MFE is higher than those at MFEs based on other metals, and high enough to get quantitative a.s.v. peaks of lead and cadmium. The mercury film of the Ni-MFE is stable both mechanically and chemically; a.s.v. peaks at a Ni-MFE which had been used fifty times within 300 h after its preparation were identical with those at the freshly prepared electrode. With the Ni-MFE, 5 × 10^?10–10^?7 M lead(II) and 2 × 10^?10–10^?7 M cadmium(II) in the solution can be determined with relative standard deviations of 11 and 12%, respectively. These results are comparable to those obtained by a.s.v. at an in situ mercury-plated g]assy carbon electrode.     

Preconcentration and determination of calcium and magnesium in brine with flow-injection systems

On-line preconcentration on a chelating resin (Dowex A-1) and elution with 0.1 M hydorchloric acid is followed by spectrophotometry based on the metal complexes formed with 1- (2-hydroxy-4-diethylamino-1-phenylazo)-2-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid. The total concentration of calcium and magnesium is determined; in a second sample, calcium is masked with a ligand buffer containing excess of barium(II) and EGTA, and magnesium is determined. The calcium concentration is measured by difference. Magnesium (1–30 μg l^?1 and calcium (8– 10 μg l^?1) in 2.5 M sodium chloride can be determined. Calcium and magnesium in analytical reagent-grade sodium chloride and potassium chloride and primary standard sodium chloride are aslo determined. The method based on the exchange between calcium ions and Mg(EDTA) is proposed to enchance the sensitivity for calcium.