Trace metal analysis of coal fly ash collected plain and on a quartz fibre filter

A simple, uniform procedure has been developed for microwave-based digestion of fly ash samples collected from the hoppers of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), or collected from flue gases on a heat-resistant quartz fibre filter and for subsequent atomic absorption spectrometric analysis of trace metals (Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn). HNO(3), HCl, HF and mixtures have been tested as digestion acids. The combination of HNO(3) and HF has been found to be efficient for the digestion of fly ash samples with and without quartz fibre filter material. In spite of the complicated matrix, results with satisfactory accuracy and precision (relative standard deviation below 10% for most of the elements) have been obtained. In the case of analysis of fly ash together with a quartz fibre filter, the calibration curve has to be determined by standard addition to a blank solution containing a dissolved blank quartz fibre filter.     

Ion chromatographic determination of trace level phosphorus in purified quartz

Trace levels of phosphorus in purified quartz are determined by ion chromatography. In situ reagent purification, matrix digestion and oxidation of phosphorus to orthophosphate ion are carried out simultaneously in a vapour phase digestion (VPD) assembly using a mixture of HF, HNO3 and H2O2. A drastic reduction (475 times) in phosphate blank from reagents (HF/H2O2) was achieved in the VPD through in situ purification of the reagent. The residues remaining after volatilisation (solvent/matrix), mostly consisting of insoluble phosphate/fluoride salts of divalent and trivalent cations, were solubilised by ion-exchange dissolution. Phosphate was analysed on the IonPac AS17 column with suppressed conductivity detection. The results of the ion chromatography (IC) method were compared with a spectrophotometric method. Accuracy was evaluated by analysing a certified reference material (silicon, NIST 57a). The method detection limit was 0.05 microg g(-1).     

Trace metal analysis of coal fly ash collected plain and on a quartz fibre filter

A simple, uniform procedure has been developed for microwave-based digestion of fly ash samples collected from the hoppers of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), or collected from flue gases on a heat-resistant quartz fibre filter and for subsequent atomic absorption spectrometric analysis of trace metals (Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn). HNO₃, HCl, HF and mixtures have been tested as digestion acids. The combination of HNO₃ and HF has been found to be efficient for the digestion of fly ash samples with and without quartz fibre filter material. In spite of the complicated matrix, results with satisfactory accuracy and precision (relative standard deviation below 10% for most of the elements) have been obtained. In the case of analysis of fly ash together with a quartz fibre filter, the calibration curve has to be determined by standard addition to a blank solution containing a dissolved blank quartz fibre filter.     

螯合离子色谱法分析复杂基体中痕量金属离子的研究

发展了应用螯合离子色谱法分析复杂基体中痕量金属离子的新方法。针对不同的检测目的,利用螯合柱（ＭｅｔＰａｃＣＣ－１）和浓缩柱（ＴＭＣ－１）,采用适当的洗脱液在线将基体中的阴离子、一价阳离子、碱土金属离子以及其它干扰离子除去,同时,浓缩富集待测的痕量金属离子,然后再选择适当的梯度淋洗体系,在含有双功能基的分析柱上分离Ｐｂ,Ｃｕ,Ｃｄ,Ｃｏ,Ｚｎ和Ｎｉ等过渡金属离子和１４种镧系金属离子,继而用在线柱后衍生和光度法检测。方法简单快速,样品经适当的酸消解成溶液后即可进样,灵敏度高,检测限为１０－９级甚至更低。     

On-line pretreatment and determination of Pb, Cu and Cd at the μg l level in drinking water by chelation ion chromatography

A novel, highly sensitive method for the simultaneous separation and determination of lead, copper, cadmium and other transition metals in drinking water was achieved by on-line sample pretreatment of chelation ion chromatography. Manganese, which coeluted with cadmium, was oxidized to permanganate by ammonium persulfate before injection. Permanganate, with bulk quantity of alkali, alkaline earth metals, iron and aluminum, was eliminated by pyrophosphoric acid–ammonium acetate buffer solution (pH 5.5), while retaining heavy and transition metals on a selective chelating resin (MetPac CC-1 column). Then, they were disabsorbed and transferred to a sulfonated cation exchanger (TMC-1 column). Finally, the concentrated trace metals were separated on a bifunctional ion-exchange column (CS5A) by a concentration gradient of oxalic acid and sodium nitrate eluents, coupled with post-column spectrophotometric detection with 2-[(5-bromo-2-pyridyl)azo]-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) at 560 nm. The separation and color-development conditions were optimized. The detection limits for the method (signal-to-noise ratio=3:1) were at or below the μg l⁻¹ level. The results of drinking water analyses were satisfactory.     

Chemical vapour generation of transition metal volatile species for analytical purposes: determination of Zn by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

Volatile species of Zn were generated by merging acidified aqueous samples and sodium tetrahydroborate(III) solution in a continuous flow system. The gaseous analyte was subsequently introduced via a stream of Ar carrier into the inlet tube of the plasma torch. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for detection. The operating conditions (chemical and physical parameters) and the concentrations of different inorganic (hydrochloric, nitric) and organic acids (acetic, citric, oxalic, tartaric) were evaluated for the efficient generation of Zn vapour. A detection limit (3sigma(blank)) of 4.6 ng mL(-1) was achieved. The precision (RSD) of the determination was 6.9% at a level of 250 ng mL(-1) and 4.7% for 1000 ng mL(-1) (n = 10). The efficiency of the generation process was estimated to be close to 50% in HCl. The possible interferent effect of transition metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni), hydride forming elements (As, Ge, Pb, Sb, Se) and Hg on Zn signal was examined. The method was validated by the determination of Zn in a certified reference material (CRM), NIST 1643d trace elements in water.     

水质中总氮测定的影响因素分析

采用碱性过硫酸钾消解―紫外分光光度法对水质中总氮含量进行测定,分析影响总氮测定结果的各种因素。实验结果显示,测定水中总氮过程中,实验所用纯净水、过硫酸钾纯度及碱性溶液存放时间对空白吸光度有明显影响,消解时间和冷却放置时间也会影响测定的空白吸光度和相对误差。在实验确定的最佳条件下对样品进行测定,结果准确可靠。     

Determination of copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt and manganese in seawater by chelation ion chromatography

Preconcentration and determination of trace elements in seawater by chelation ion chromatography (CIC) was studied. For the retention of metal ions (0.25–0.30 M), ammonium acetate (at pH 4.8–5.1) and macroporous iminodiacetate chelating resin were used. This system (CIC) permits trace and ultra-trace determination of metals in a variety of complex matrices, in particular those with a high content of alkali and alkaline earth metals. Detection limits range from 0.1 to 0.5 ng. Satisfactory results are obtained in the range 0.05–0.5 μg/1 when 60 ml of sample are preconcentrated. In this work the contents of zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese in seawater from the Venice lagoon are presented. The results obtained by chelation ion chromatography are compared with those obtained using preconcentration of metals with dithizone and ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate in chloroform and analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.     

总氮测定过程中空白吸光值偏高的原因分析

使用HJ 636-2012测定水质总氮时,空白吸光值往往偏高。为了寻找最佳的实验条件,使用多元线性回归模型定性评价过硫酸钾和氢氧化钠的纯度、实验用水、碱性过硫酸钾溶液的存放时间、消解条件、冷却时间、消解器皿等因素对空白吸光值的重要性。结果表明:过硫酸钾纯度对空白吸光值影响最显著。为了保证总氮空白吸光值小于0.030,测定总氮时应优先使用经过2~3次重结晶的过硫酸钾以及优级纯的氢氧化钠,碱性过硫酸钾溶液应现配现用;建议消解时间30 min,消解温度123℃,自然冷却时间1.5 h;实验应优先使用超纯水或无氨水;使用哈希消解管代替25 mL比色管。     

阳离子交换色谱中色谱柱温度对碱金属与碱土金属离子保留的影响

研究了非抑制型阳离子交换色谱中色谱柱温度(25~50℃)对碱金属离子(Li+、Na+、K+、Rb+)和碱土金属离子(Mg2+、Ca2+、Sr2+)以及NH4+保留的影响。在Shim-pack IC-C1磺酸型阳离子交换柱上,以硝酸为流动相分离碱金属离子,以乙二胺或乙二胺-草酸(柠檬酸)为流动相分离碱土金属离子,随着色谱柱温度的升高,碱金属和碱土金属离子的保留时间均增长,其范特霍夫曲线具有良好的线性关系,斜率为负值,表明在此条件下碱金属和碱土金属离子的保留为吸热过程。在Shim-pack IC-SC1羧酸型阳离子交换柱上,以硫酸为流动相同时分离碱金属和碱土金属离子,随着色谱柱温度的升高,Mg2+、Ca2+的保留时间增长,而K+、Rb+的保留时间缩短,Li+、Na+、NH4+的保留时间基本不变。在此条件下,Mg2+、Ca2+、K+和Rb+的范特霍夫曲线具有良好的线性关系,其中Mg2+和Ca2+的曲线斜率为负值,K+和Rb+的曲线斜率为正值,表明Mg2+和Ca2+的保留表现为吸热过程,K+和Rb+的保留表现为放热过程。研究表明在不同固定相和流动相条件下,色谱柱温度对碱金属和碱土金属离子保留行为的影响不同。     

Determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by column solid phase extraction

Methods are described for the determination of trace and ultra trace amounts of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts. Separation and preconcentration of trace metals is achieved by a column solid phase extraction procedure using silica gel modified with derivatives of dithiocarbamates — Na-DDTC (sodium diethyldithio-carbamate and HMDTC (ammonium hexamethylene-dithiocarbamate) as column packing material. The influence of the sorbent preparation procedure on the degree of sorption of the trace analytes is examined for different pH values of the sample solution. Isobutylmethyl ketone (IBMK) is proposed as an effective eluent for quantitative elution of retained metal ions. Optimal instrumental parameters for ETAAS determination of preconcentrated elements in organic eluate are presented. Practical application of sorbents in analysis of natural waters and alkali and alkaline earth salts is demonstrated. Proposed preconcentration procedure combined with ETAAS determination of trace analytes allows the determination of 0.04 g l^–1 Cd, 0.1 g l^–1 Cr, Cu, and Mn and 0.3 g l^–1 Co, Fe, Ni and Pb in natural waters and 1.10^–7% Cd, 3.10^–7% Cr and Mn, 7.10^–7% Co, Ni and Pb and 2.10^–6% Cu and Fe in alkali and alkaline earth salts.     

Solid sampling coupled to flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for Mn and Ni determination in petroleum coke

A solid sampling flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-FF-AAS) system was developed for Mn and Ni determination in petroleum coke. The proposed system for solid sampling was a quartz cell with two perpendicular tubes (T-shaped tubes), positioned above the burner. Manganese and Ni determination was made using an atomic absorption spectrometer with deuterium background corrector, air-acetylene flame and a single slit burner. Powdered samples of coke were introduced as pellets (up to 62 mg) into the quartz cell with a movable hollow quartz piston. When the sample pellet reached the end of quartz cell (T-connection), in the presence of a constant oxygen flow, it quickly burned and the combustion products were transferred to the upper slit tube where the atomic absorption process occurs. Calibration was possible using aqueous reference solutions applied directly on high purity graphite pellets. Results obtained for Mn and Ni using the proposed SS-FF-AAS system were compared to those obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after sample decomposition by high pressure microwave assisted acid digestion and also by microwave induced combustion. Agreement better than 96% was obtained for both methods employing a previous step of sample digestion (ICP OES and ICP-MS) and by SS-FF-AAS. Accuracy was evaluated using certified reference materials and also recovery tests. The relative standard deviation was lower than 9% for both analytes. The characteristic mass was 18.3 and 14.7 ng and the limit of detection was 0.6 and 0.8 µg g^− 1 for Mn and Ni, respectively. The proposed SS-FF-AAS system can be applied for Mn and Ni determination in petroleum coke, combining a relatively high sample throughput (9 determinations per h), and a suitable precision and accuracy.     

Optimization of an urban particulate matter multi-element analysis method by inductively coupled plasma--atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES)

In the present work a method for simultaneous metals determination, in urban air particulate matter by ICP-AES has been set up. A large number of elements (18) has been analyzed, including major (Al, Fe, K, and Mg), minor (Na, Pb and Zn) and trace (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sr and V) elements. The procedure consists of microwave sample acidic total digestion by HNO3/HF mixture and subsequent analysis by ICP-AES, using different assemblies depending on sample treatment procedure: a quartz Meinhard nebulizer/cyclonic chamber, if HF excess was eliminated, or a cross-flow nebulizer/plastic Scott chamber, suitable for application with HF. A cyclonic chamber for hydride generation was used for As, Sb and Hg determination. The procedure was tested with Standard Reference Materials 1648 NIST Urban Particulate Matter and Certified Reference Material No8 NIES "Vehicle Exhaust Particulates". Two sampling supports, quartz fibre and polycarbonate filters, have been examined in order to find the most suitable i.e. the one characterized by less interference. Some real samples of urban air particulate matter, TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 fractions, collected during an intercomparison campaign promoted by Regione Lombardia, have been analyzed with the procedure developed.     

ICP–AES法同时检测生蚝中铅、铜、镉、铬、铁含量时3种样品前处理方法比较

采用干法、湿法和微波消解法处理珠海生蚝样品,用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪在谱线Pb 220.3 nm,Cu 324.7 nm,Cd 228.8 nm,Cr 283.5 nm,Fe 259.9 nm下测定样品中铅、铜、镉、铬、铁5种重金属元素的含量。结果表明,珠海市4个养殖基地的生蚝重金属含量均在国标限量范围内。铅、铜、镉、铬、铁各元素线性相关系数分别为0.999 8,0.999 4,0.999 9,0.999 2,0.997 8,检出限分别为0.020,0.014,0.001,0.036,0.120 mg/kg。干法、湿法、微波消解法的加标回收率分别为72.8%~99.3%,88.0%~102.0%,89.0%~103.0%。微波消解处理样品,ICP–AES法同时测定4种样品中5种重金属的含量,其测定结果的相对标准偏差均小于17%。微波消解–ICP–AES适合生蚝中铅、铜、镉、铬、铁含量的快速测定。     

在线柱分离ICP-MS测定高纯Eu2O3中Tm

报道了一种在线柱分离ICP－MS快速测定高纯氧化铕中杂质铥的方法，采用一种新型膦酸类萃取剂，大大降低了林洗酸度，洗脱液中的Tm直接进入ICP－MS进行在线测定。整个分离测定周期为40min，方法检出限为0．12ng/mL，加示加收率为91．5％－98％，RSD为4．1％，该方法快速，简便。用于高纯氧化铕中杂质铥的测定，结果满意。     

Determination of inorganic ions in food and beverages by capillary electrophoresis

A review of the applications of electrophoresis to the determination of inorganic anions (sulphate, sulphite, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite and halides) and inorganic cations (ammonium, alkali and alkaline metals and trace elements) in food and beverages is presented.     

A methodological study of mercury speciation using dogfish liver CRM (DOLT-2)

The purpose of the study was to optimise analytical methods for determination of the chemical speciation of mercury in studies of protective mechanisms of selenium. Optimisation of the methods was performed using CRM DOLT-2 (Dogfish liver), both in its original form and after separation of various fractions. The sample was homogenised with 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.6) and ultracentrifuged. The soluble phase obtained was applied to a size exclusion chromatography column (Sephadex G-75 column) for separation of various protein fractions. Total mercury (total Hg), monomethyl mercury (MeHg) and selenium (Se) were determined in whole dogfish liver tissue and its soluble and insoluble phases (pellet). Different approaches for determination of total Hg and MeHg were compared. Simultaneous determination of MeHg and inorganic mercury (Hg2+) was based on alkaline dissolution and/or acid leaching, followed by ethylation, room temperature precollection, isothermal gas chromatography (GC), pyrolysis and detection with cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). The sum of MeHg and Hg2+ was compared to total Hg results obtained by acid digestion and CVAAS detection. The accuracy of MeHg determination was checked by its determination using acid leaching at room temperature, solvent extraction, back extraction into Milli-Q water, ethylation, GC and CVAFS detection. For the insoluble phase it is recommended to use solvent extraction for MeHg and acid digestion CVAAS for total Hg. For determination of MeHg and Hg2+ in the lyophilised sample and water soluble fractions containing low concentrations of mercury species, the simultaneous measurement of MeHg and Hg2+ after alkaline dissolution is the most appropriate method.     

Microwave enhanced alkaline digestion of silicate samples for determination of Fe2O3

A novel approach to the study of microwave enhanced alkaline digestion was developed for rapid digestion of silicate samples. By using alkali metal hydroxide solution as microwave digestion solvent, the feasibility and principle of digestion were discussed for the determination of Fe₂O₃ contents in quartz, kaolin, feldspar and soda-lime-silica glass. The results obtained from four standard samples and six real world samples are in good agreement with the certified values, and are comparable to the predicted results from traditional alkaline digestion method. All the above demonstrates that this new proposed method is precise, accurate and can provide a simple, fast and energy saving procedure for the determination of components in silicate samples.     

微波消解-电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)法测生物质中的碱金属和碱土金属

为研究并解决测试生物质样品中碱金属和碱土金属含量的干扰,采用微波消解-电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)法对生物质中的碱金属和碱土金属钾、钙、钠、镁元素进行测定,考察了样品消解后不同的酸体系,共存元素干扰对钾、钠、钙、镁含量测定的干扰研究。经过研究表明,接近分析标准曲线酸浓度的样品干扰小,铅、铟、钛、锰元素对钠元素测定造成干扰,砷、铜、镉对钙元素测定干扰,铝对钾元素测定有干扰,镁测定不受共存元素干扰影响,运用干扰系数法可以减少共存元素对测定元素的误差。各待测元素标准曲线相关系数大于0.9996,检出限为0.0014~0.023 mg/L,玉米芯各元素的相对标准偏差为0.98%~1.9%,加标回收率为80.2%~106%;西瓜皮的各元素相对标准偏差为0.91%~2.3%,加标回收率为85.3%~106%。方法用于测定国家标准物质GBW07603,各元素结果均在标准值参考范围内。方法用于测定生物质中碱金属和碱土金属的结果,用t检验法与离子色谱测定值进行比对,结果无显著性差异。     

Application of chelation ion chromatography to the determination of lanthanides in agriculture

Lanthanides are widely present in soil and plant. In this paper, it is the first time that chelation ion chromatography is applied to analyse lanthanides in a series of samples in agriculture. This technique can eliminate bulk quantity of alkali, alkaline earth metals on chelating concentrator column (MetPac CC-1) and eliminate transition metals on cation exchange column (TMC-1) from complex matrices with ammonium acetate buffer while lanthanides are concentrated. It is shown to be capable of separating and determining all lanthanides on mixed-bed ion exchange column (CS5) in a wide variety of sample types with high accuracy. Elution is carried out with a concentration gradient of oxalic acid (Ox) and diglycolic acid (DGA), coupled with post-column spectrophotometric detection with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) at 520 nm. It can determined ng ml(-1) scales of lanthanides. The whole run time after sample injection is about 55 min.