Determination of mercury in industrial workplaces by collection on activated carbon,solvent extraction and cold-vapour atomic-absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of mercury in workplace environments in a chlor-alkali plant was optimized. Mercury was collected on activated carbon with a personal sampling pump at a flow-rate of 0.5 l/min, then the carbon was mineralized by heating with potassium permanganate and sulphuric acid. The mercuric ion was next chelated with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone at acidic pH (1.6–5). The chelate in the extract was decomposed with sulphuric acid and the mercuric ion reduced to the metal with stannous chloride. The mercury was determined by coldvapour atomic-absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). The calibration graph was linear up to 5 ng/ml Hg in the initial solution, the relative standard deviation was 4.5% (for 2 ng/ml) and the detection limit was 0.14 ng/ml. All the figures of merit are referred to the initial sample. The proposed method gave good accordance with CVAAS without extraction.     

Preparation and properties of macroreticular resins containing thiazole and thiazoline groups

Three macroreticular polystyrene-based resins with amino- or imino-thiazole and thiazoline groups as the functional groups have been prepared. The resins are highly stable in acid and alkaline solutions and have high selectivity for mercury(II). In the presence of hydrochloric acid, sorption of mercury attains equilibrium fairly rapidly, the time for 50% uptake of mercury being 3-6 min. There are practically no interferences. In a column operation, mercury is quantitatively recovered by elution with 0.1M hydrochloric acid containing 5% thiourea. The thiazoline resin column can be used to concentrate mercury from sea-water.     

Adsorption behavior of mercury and precious metals on cross-linked chitosan and the removal of ultratrace amounts of mercury in concentrated hydrochloric acid by a column treatment with cross-linked chitosan.

Cross-linked chitosan was synthesized with chitosan and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The adsorption behavior of trace amounts of metal ions on the cross-linked chitosan was systematically examined by packing it in a mini-column, passing a metal solution through it and measuring metal ions in the effluent by ICP-MS. The cross-linked chitosan adsorbed mercury and precious metals (Pd, Pt, and Au) at pH values from acidic to neutral. Especially, mercury in concentrated hydrochloric acids could be adsorbed on cross-linked chitosan quantitatively by an anion-exchange mechanism in the form of a stable chloride complex. This method was applied to the removal of mercury from commercially available hydrochloric acid; more than 97% of mercury was removed, and the residual mercury in the hydrochloric acid (Grade: for trace analysis) was found to be 0.15 ppb. Mercury adsorbed on the cross-linked chitosan could be easily desorbed with an eluent containing I M hydrochloric acid and 0.05 M thiourea. The thus-refreshed cross-linked chitosan could be repeatedly used for the removal of mercury in hydrochloric acid.     

Trace enrichment with activated carbon and determination of trace metals in high-purity zinc and zinc(II) nitrate

A method is described for the enrichment and determination of trace metals such as Ag, Bi, Cu, Co, Cd, In, Pb, Ni, Tl, Fe and Hg, present as impurities in high-purity zinc and zinc(II) nitrate. When the sample solution, after addition of potassium ethyl xanthate, is filtered through a small filter paper coated with 50 mg of activated carbon, the trace elements are quantitatively adsorbed on the carbon. The trace elements (with the exception of Hg) are dissolved off with nitric acid and determined by atomic-absorption or emission spectrometry. Mercury is evaporated at 650 degrees and determined by flameless atomic-absorption. In 10 g of Zn oe 50 g of Zn(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O the limit of detection is 0.1-60 ppM and the coefficient of variation was 2.7-20%.     

The separation of mercury from gold by ion exchange

Mixtures containing large amounts of gold and small amounts of mercury (50:1) can be quantitatively separated by passing a 2N hydrochloric acid solution of the chlorides through Dowex 50 resin. Mercury behaves as a cation and is quantitatively retained. Gold behaves as an union and is not retained by the resin. The gold is obtained spcctrobcopically free from all metals. The capacity of the resin is approximately 10 nig of mercury per gram of rebin. The rcyin is freed from mercury by washing with 2N liydroclonc acid and may be used over again.     

Atomic-absorption determination of beryllium in liquid environmental samples

A method is described for the atomic-absorption determination of beryllium in liquid environmental samples after separation by solvent extraction and cation-exchange. The beryllium is first isolated from natural waters and beverages by chloroform extraction of its acetylacetonate from a solution at pH 7 and containing EDTA. The chloroform extract is then mixed in the ratio of 3:6:1 with tetrahydrofuran and methanol containing nitric acid, and passed through a column of Dowex 50 x 8 (H(+)-form). After removal of acetylacetone, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran by washing the resin bed with methanol-HNO(3), beryllium is eluted with 6M hydrochloric acid and determined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. The method was successfully applied to determine beryllium in tap-, river- and sea-water samples, mineral waters and wines. Beryllium contents in the range from < 0.01 to 2.3 microg/l were found in these materials.     

Preconcentration of nickel and cobalt on algae and determination by slurry graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

Unicellular green algae have been utilized to preconcentrate Ni(2+) and Co(2+) ions from sea-water and riverine water samples. Studies have shown that rinsing the algae with 0.12M hydrochloric acid improves the adsorption of nickel and cobalt, and the optimum range of pH of extraction is wide. The maximum extraction efficiencies were 84 and 73% for Ni and Co, respectively, at ng/ml levels. The sea-water matrix and relatively small amounts of many impurities reduce the adsorption efficiency for both nickel and cobalt. The preconcentration is achieved by mixing 6 mg of algae with 50-100 ml of sample, and subsequently isolating the algae by centrifugation. The pellet of algae is then resuspended in 1 ml of 0.08M nitric acid, and analyzed as a slurry by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. The values found for nickel and cobalt in riverine (SLRS-1) and sea-water (CASS-1) standard reference materials are within the limits of certification.     

Acid Effects on the Measurement of Mercury by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The influence of nitric, hydrochloric and sulfuric acids on the measurement of mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry has been investigated. Small pre-reduction peaks associated with the instability of mercury were observed in solutions containing ≤ 12.5, < 2 and ≥ 12.5% v/v of each acid, respectively. Mercury was found to be most stable in ≥, 2% v/v hydrochloric acid and the measured absorbance was not greatly influenced by varying concentration of the acid. The mercury absorbance measurements were more sensitive in solutions containing ≤ 6.3% v/v hydrochloric acid than in similar concentrations of nitric and sulfuric acids. The use of the three acids as a digestion mixture result in serious interference from nitrogen oxides. The interferant was removed by use of expelling agents such as urea and sulfamic acid or overcome by use of excess stannous chloride, prior to the reduction of mercury(II) ions. The determination of mercury in NBS albacore tuna using both of these approaches to overcome the interference problem proved to be successful.     

Determination of mercury in environmental samples by cold vapour generation and atomic-absorption spectrometry with a gold-coated graphite furnace

Mercury is determined at below the pg/ml level by a combination of cold vapour generation, trapping in a gold-coated graphite furnace and atomic-absorption detection. The mercury is reduced to the element by stannous chloride, stripped from solution by a stream of nitrogen and collected on a gold-coated porous graphite disk in a graphite furnace. It is then atomized by increasing the graphite furnace temperature and detected by an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer. The absolute detection limit and the characteristic mass were found to be 5 and 20 pg for 0.0044 absorbance, respectively. The concentration limit of detection was 0.1 pg/ml for a 50-ml sample, and the linear dynamic range covered three orders of magnitude. The precisions of the measurements were 2.7% for 0.1 ng and 2.6% for 2 ng of mercury. Analyses of NBS and NIES reference materials showed quantitative recovery. Analytical results obtained by the technique are presented for natural waters, marine biota and sediments.     

An MSFIA system for mercury speciation based on an anion-exchange membrane

A new methodology for the in-line preconcentration, clean-up and speciation of mercury by use of an anion-exchange membrane is proposed. The speciation of mercury is based on retention of its tetrachloro complex onto the membrane while organic mercury flows freely through it. A multisyringe is used as a liquid driver and a cold vapour atomic fluorescence detector is employed to ensure a high sensitivity. Organic mercury is decomposed into to inorganic mercury by using a UV lamp. The carrier and reductant streams consist of 1.5% (m/v) hydrochloric acid and 2% (m/v) tin chloride, respectively. Certified reference material DORM-2 was digested with 37% hydrochloric acid and analysed directly without the need for extraction. The proposed system is more environmental friendly than the classical liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Mercury recoveries from spiked samples and the reference material were all close to 100%. An LOD of 14 and 16 ng/L was obtained for total and organic mercury, respectively, both with an RSD less than 1.3%.     

Determination of arsenic in ores, concentrates and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A recent graphite-furnace atomic-absorption method for determining approximately 0.2 mug/g or more of arsenic in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments, after separation from matrix elements by cyclohexane extraction of arsenic(III) xanthate from approximately 8-10M hydrochloric acid, has been modified to include an alternative hydride-generation atomic-absorption finish. After the extract has been washed with 10M hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper and residual iron, arsenic(III) in the extract is oxidized to arsenic(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into water. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, arsenic is reduced to arsenic(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 4M hydrochloric acid and ultimately determined to hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 193.7 nm, with sodium borohydride as reductant. Interference from gold, platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide before the iodide reduction step. The detection limits for ores and related materials is approximately 0.1 mug of arsenic per g. Results obtained by this method are compared with those obtained previously by the graphite-furnace method.     

活性炭富集-电热塞曼原子吸收光谱法测定水中痕量的汞

建立了一种水中痕量汞的测定方法。通过活性炭定量吸附水中痕量汞,采用电热塞曼原子吸收光谱法测定活性炭富集的汞。与目前水中总汞测定方法相比,本方法避免了消解等步骤,减少了汞污染和汞损失,操作更加简单。考察了活性炭粒度、酸处理方法、酸介质和富集时间对富集效率的影响,以及热解温度和干扰离子对方法测定结果的影响。通过空白活性炭加标、空白溶液加标和环境水样加标3种方法制作标准曲线,三者的相关系数达0.9999,经统计检验,3条标准曲线的斜率无差异,表明了在此实验条件下环境水样中的共存物不干扰汞的测定,同时也表明可直接用空白活性炭加标的方法进行标准曲线的绘制。采用本方法对含5和50 ng/L汞的水样进行测定,其相对标准偏差分别为7.2%和4.2%(n=11)。本方法测定下限达到1.2 ng/L。地表水和自来水样中添加10 ng/L汞的加标回收率在92.0%~103.0%之间。用 ICP-MS作对照,二者分析结果相符合,相对误差在2.9%~ 3.4%之间,表明本方法准确可靠、精密度好。     

Determination of antimony in ores and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometric method for determining approximately 0.02 mug/g or more of antimony in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments is described. The method involves the reduction of antimony(V) to antimony(III) by heating with hypophosphorous acid in a 4.5M hydrochloric acid-tartaric acid medium and its separation by filtration, if necessary, from any elemental arsenic, selenium and tellurium produced during the reduction step. Antimony is subsequently separated from iron, lead, zinc, tin and various other elements by a single cyclohexane extraction of its xanthate complex from approximately 4.5M hydrochloric acid/0.2M sulphuric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reluctant for iron(III). After the extract is washed, if necessary, with 10% hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper, followed by 4.5M hydrochloric acid to remove residual iron and other elements, antimony(III) in the extract is oxidized to antimony(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into dilute sulphuric acid containing tartaric acid. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, antimony(V) is reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 3M hydrochloric acid and finally determined by hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 217.8 nm with sodium borohydride as reluctant. Interference from platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide during the iodide reduction step. Interference from gold is avoided by using a 3M hydrochloric acid medium for the hydride-generation step. Under these conditions gold forms a stable iodide complex.     

三价铀的制备和稳定性研究

在盐酸和硫酸介质中,研究了汞阴极电解还原和液态Zn-Hg齐还原制备U(Ⅲ)的实验方法,比较了不同介质、酸度、铀浓度和电解时间对U(Ⅲ)还原率的影响,获得了用电解法定量还原制备U(Ⅲ)的最佳条件。经对U(Ⅲ)在空气和氮气中稳定性的测定,得出U(Ⅲ)在空气中的氧化速率呈一级反应。     

Determination of trace levels of calcium in steels by carbon-furnace atomic-absorption and atomic-emission spectrometry

Methods are described for the determination of trace levels of calcium in steels by atomic-absorption and atomic-emission spectrometry with a carbon furnace for atomization and excitation. In both cases, a commercial electrothermal atomic-absorption instrument was used. Samples were analysed after dissolution in a mixture of nitric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric acids.     

多壁碳纳米管的纯化

用900℃高温氢气处理以及5 mol/L盐酸回流的方法，纯化了一种由甲烷在Ni- Mg-O催化剂上裂解生长的多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs），考察了不同纯化阶段MWCNTs的 吸水率、比表面积、Ni和Mg残留量以及在不同温度下苯、正己烷、乙醇、丙酮四种 化合物在MWCNTs填充色谱柱上的脱附率的变化，并用透射电镜观察了MWCNTs的形态 。结果表明，高温氢气处理可去除MWCNTs的无定形碳和表面极性基团，使其比表面 积和吸水率减小，同时可打开MWCNTs端口。高温氢气处理后，再用盐酸回流即容易 去除MWCNTs中单用盐酸回流方法无法去除的Ni.经过纯化的MWCNTs的吸水率远小于 活性碳，比Carbopack B稍大，比表面积和Carbopack B相近。苯、正己烷、己醇、 丙酮四种化合物在纯化的MWCNTs填充色谱柱上的脱附率和Carbopack B的相同。经 纯化的MWCNTs的Ni残留量为30 μg/g，Mg残留量低于检测限（10 μg/g）。由于管 腔的存在，纯化的MWCNTs对有机物的保留能力大于Carbopack B。它可以作为气相 色谱固定相和吸附挥发性有机物的吸附剂。     

Determination of lead in fly-ash from a garbage incinerator by atomic-absorption and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The lead content in fly-ash collected by an electrostatic precipitator has been determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry (AAS) after decomposition by four different leaching/dissolution techniques, and also determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) by the standard-addition method. The XRFS data were evaluated by non-linear regression since the standard additions affected the attenuation coefficient of the sample. Good agreement was obtained between the results obtained with AAS and XRFS. It is concluded that lead is quantitatively extracted by hot 1M nitric acid or treatment with hydrofluoric acid/nitric acid. Direct measurement of briquetted samples by XRFS is suggested for rapid monitoring of the lead content in fly-ash from garbage incineration.     

Determination of mercury by atomic absorption spectrometry using a platinum-lined graphite furnace for in situ preconcentration

Mercury in water samples was reduced by tin(II) chloride and the generated vapour swept in a flow of argon through a platinum-lined graphite tube to permit in situ preconcentration. Subsequent atomization of the mercury was then carried out under essentially gas-stop conditions to maximize sensitivy. The system was optimized with respect to argon gas flow and time of mercury generation/deposition using response surface methodology. Synthetic sea-water samples were analysed to test the applicability of the method. For 50-ml sample volumes, detection limits below 2 ng 1^?1 mercury could be obtained, based on twice the standard deviation of the blank. The most favourable aspect of the procedure is its simplicity, since the mercury generator can be easily constructed and connected to commonly available graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometers.     

A comparison of methods for the determination of platinum in ores

Fire-assay and wet-extraction methods of determining platinum in ores have been evaluated. The fire-assay procedure using lead as a collector was used in combination with flame and flameless atomic-absorption, emission spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. In this last method flattened silver beads were analysed directly, whereas for the other methods the beads were dissolved in aqua regia and the solutions made up with concentrated hydrochloric acid before analysis. The wet procedures involved treatment of the ores with acids and subsequent analysis by flame atomic-absorption or by spectrophotometry after treatment with tin(II) chloride. Chromatographic, ion-exchange and solvent-extraction procedures were used to isolate platinum from base metals, the other platinum metals and gold. Results for each ore by fire assay-flame atomic-absorption, fire assay-emission spectroscopy, and wet extraction combined with spectrophotometry, showed no difference at the 99% confidence level. X-Ray fluorescence and flameless atomic-absorption results tended to be high and low respectively. The most precise method was wet extraction followed by spectrophotometric determination. Emission spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence generally yielded the poorest precision. Wet-extraction methods were time-consuming and since no advantage was gained in accuracy over the fire-assay methods, a combined fire assay-flame atomic-absorption system was the preferred method of analysis.     

Separation of traces and larger amounts of bismuth from gram amounts of thallium, mercury, gold and platinum by cation-exchange chromatography on a macroporous resin

Traces and larger amounts of bismuth (up to 50 mg) can be separated from gram amounts of thallium, mercury, gold and platinum (up to 5 g) by sorption from a mixture of 0.1M hydrochloric acid and 0.4M nitric acid on a column containing just 3 g (8.1 ml) of AGMP-50, a macroporous cation-exchange resin. This resin retains bismuth much more strongly than does the usual microporous resin (styrene-DVB with 8% cross-linkage). Other elements are eluted with the same acid mixture as that used for sorption, and bismuth is finally eluted with 1.0M hydrochloric acid. Separations of bismuth are sharp and recoveries quantitative. Only microgram amounts of the other elements remain in the bismuth fraction. Amounts of bismuth as little as 5 mug have been separated from 5 g of thallium, and determined (r.s.d. = 2%) by flame atomic-absorption. Only 100-mug amounts of bismuth have been separated from gram amounts of mercury, gold, and platinum, but there is no reason to believe that smaller or larger amounts of bismuth cannot be separated from these elements and recovered with the same accuracy as that for the separation from thallium. The lower limit of the method is determination of 0.4 mug of bismuth in 10 ml of solution (0.004 absorbance). An elution curve, the relevant distribution coefficients and the results of analysis of synthetic mixtures and two practical samples [thallium metal and mercury(II) nitrate] are presented.