Mechanism of volatile hydride formation and their atomization in hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

The mechanism of volatile hydride generation (HG) and the formation of analyte atoms in the quartz cell atomizer used in the determination of hydride-forming elements (As, Bi, Ge, Pb, Sb, Sn, Te etc.) by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), have been critically reviewed. The nascent hydrogen mechanism failed to explain hydride generation under different experimental conditions when tetrahydroborate (THB), amineboreanes (AB) and cyanotrihydroborate (CBH) were used as reductants. Various experimental evidence suggested a non-nascent hydrogen mechanism, in which the transfer of hydrogen directly bonded to boron to an analyte takes place. In electrochemical hydride generation (EcHG), the reduction of the analyte species and subsequent hydrogenation was proposed. The mechanism of analyte atom formation in a quartz tube atomizer has been explained by the following hypotheses: thermal decomposition, oxidation by 02 and collisions by hydrogen free radicals. The free-radical mechanism satisfactorily explains most of the analytical implications. The significant variation in the experimental conditions required to generate different analyte hydrides makes it difficult to arrive at a generalized mechanism of hydride formation.     

电化学氢化物发生法的进展及其在原子光谱分析中的应用

对电化学氢化物发生法及其在原子光谱分析中的应用进行了较为详细的评述,并提出了其今后的发展方向,如扩大可测定元素的范围;加强电化学氢化物发生反应过程中电极反应机理的探讨;加强干扰消除方法和应用方面的研究等.     

Simultaneous determination of arsenic, antimony and selenium by gas-phase diode array molecular absorption spectrometry, after preconcentration in a cryogenic trap

This paper describes a method for the simultaneous determination of As(III), Sb(III) and Se(IV) by combining hydride generation and gas phase molecular absorption spectrometry. A system for continuous hydride generation has been designed and developed, based on the use of a double process of gas-liquid separation, and optimal compromise operation conditions for the three compounds have been found. After generation, the hydrides are collected in a liquid nitrogen cryogenic trap, and then evaporated and driven to the flow cell of a diode array spectrophotometer, in which the transient signals over the 190–250 nm wavelength interval are measured. Under the recommended conditions (sample flow: 35 ml min⁻¹, 0.5 M HCl; reductor flow: 4 ml min⁻¹ of 4% NaBH₄, solution) linear response ranges above 50 μg 1⁻¹ for As(III), 30 μg 1⁻¹ for Sb(III) and 200 μg 1⁻¹ for Se(IV) are obtained with detection limits of 22 μg 1⁻¹, 15 μg 1⁻¹ and 65 μg 1⁻¹, respectively. Multiwavelength linear regression equations were used for the simultaneous determination of the three elements in different synthetic samples, with good precision and accuracy and to study simultaneously the interference from different chemical species for the three compounds. Results were similar to those obtained by other techniques using hydride generation.     

Evaluation of electrochemical hydride generation for spectrophotometric determination of As(III) by silver diethyldithiocarbamate

A batch electrochemical hydride generation system was developed for the spectrophotometric determination of inorganic As(III) by silver diethyldithiocarbamate. This method is based on electrochemical reduction of As to Arsine (AsH₃) in acidic media and on the subsequent reaction of AsH₃ with silver diethyldithiocarbamate to give an absorbing complex at 525 nm. The electrochemical generator consisted of a cathode cell separated from the anode cell by a porous glass frit and was operated with a constant direct current. A pre-activated graphite rod was used as cathode material for the production of AsH₃. The parameters related to the electrochemical hydride generation were investigated. Under optimized conditions, only As(III) can be converted to AsH₃ and a pre-reducing stage is required for total inorganic As analysis. The characteristic data of the electrochemical hydride generation and common hydride generation by NaBH₄ were compared. Also, the effects of interferences and their elimination were investigated. An absolute detection limit of 0.5 μg (3s_b) and a concentration detection limit of 0.05 μg/ml were obtained using a 10 ml sample volume. The relative standard deviation for five replicate analysis of 30 μg As(III) was 1.2%. The accuracy and recovery of the method were demonstrated by analysing spiked artificial sea water and tap water.     

Determination of As(III) and total inorganic arsenic by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple procedure was developed for the direct determination of As(III) and As(V) in water samples by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI–HG–AAS), without pre-reduction of As(V). The flow injection system was operated in the merging zones configuration, where sample and NaBH₄ are simultaneously injected into two carrier streams, HCl and H₂O, respectively. Sample and reagent injected volumes were of 250 μl and flow rate of 3.6 ml min⁻¹ for hydrochloric acid and de-ionised water. The NaBH₄ concentration was maintained at 0.1% (w/v), it would be possible to perform arsine selective generation from As(III) and on-line arsine generation with 3.0% (w/v) NaBH₄ to obtain total arsenic concentration. As(V) was calculated as the difference between total As and As(III). Both procedures were tolerant to potential interference. So, interference such as Fe(III), Cu(II), Ni(II), Sb(III), Sn(II) and Se(IV) could, at an As(III) level of 0.1 mg l⁻¹, be tolerated at a weight excess of 5000, 5000, 500, 100, 10 and 5 times, respectively. With the proposed procedure, detection limits of 0.3 ng ml⁻¹ for As(III) and 0.5 ng ml⁻¹ for As(V) were achieved. The relative standard deviations were of 2.3% for 0.1 mg l⁻¹ As(III) and 2.0% for 0.1 mg l⁻¹ As(V). A sampling rate of about 120 determinations per hour was achieved, requiring 30 ml of NaBH₄ and waste generation in order of 450 ml. The method was shown to be satisfactory for determination of traces arsenic in water samples. The assay of a certified drinking water sample was 81.7±1.7 μg l⁻¹ (certified value 80.0±0.5 μg l⁻¹).     

氢化物负压发生,夹带氧气的真空无火焰原子吸收测量技术测定砷、锑、硒和锡

在负压氢化物发生器中用1％NaBH_4将砷、锑、硒和锡还原成氢化物后,加入一定量氧气,用真空泵将氧与氢化物的混合物吸入到电热石英管中,同时用原子吸收仪器测定。加入的氧与来自硼氢化钠分解产生的氢反应,生成气态水分子,因而消除了氢对测量元素的干扰。     

Masking agents in the determination of selenium by hydride generation technique

The effects of several masking agents in the determination of selenium by hydride generation was studied using a continuous flow hydride generator coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry. A miniature argon hydrogen diffusion flame was employed as the atomizer. The effects of masking agents (KI, NaSCN, thiourea, -cysteine, 1,1,3,3 tetramethyl-2-thiourea) were studied both in the absence and in the presence of selected interfering species (Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Co, Pd, Pt and Fe) and using different addition strategies of the masking agents to the reaction system: in batch mode, either to sample or NaBH₄ reducing solution; in on-line mode, to the sample either before or after the HG step). The combined effect of some masking agents was also investigated. The addition mode of the masking agent to the reaction system could play a decisive role in the control of interfering processes both in the absence and in the presence of concomitants. The addition of NaSCN to the reducing solution of NaBH₄ produced a moderate catalytic effect, similar to the one obtained in the presence of KI, and improved the tolerance limits for Cu, Ni, Co and Pd. Linearity of calibration graphs was unaffected by the on-line addition of 1,1,3,3 tetramethyl-2-thiourea to sample solution, while under similar conditions thiourea produced dramatic curvature of calibration graphs. The combined use of KI (added to reducing solution) and 1,1,3,3 tetramethyl -2-thiourea (added on-line to the sample) exhibited masking properties comparable but not superior to those of thiourea, except for Pt and Pd for which good tolerance limits were achieved. In the absence of KI in the reductant solution the masking efficiency of 1,1,3,3 tetramethyl-2-thiourea was considerably lowered. The addition of some masking agents such as thiourea, -cysteine and 1,1,3,3 tetramethyl thiourea on-line to reaction solution after the NaBH₄+KI reduction step, could be highly effective in the control of Cu and Ag interferences. The method was applied to determination of trace of selenium in pure copper standard reference materials.     

Study of the Generating Mechanisms for Movable Reduction Bed Hydride Generator (MRBHG) with Mass spectrometry

A new hydride generation system - movable reduction bed hydride generator (MRBHG) have been developed by our group. This kind of system incorporates most of the virtues of conventional NaBH₄-acid hydride generation technique but circumvents several shortcomings of NaBH₄-acid aquatic reaction.     

Non-dispersive atomic fluorimeter for metals that form volatile hydrides

A non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer was built and tested for the determination of those elements that form volatile hydrides. The instrument design is compatible with simultaneous multiple element analysis for those elements that can be determined as their hydride. As little as 0.1 to 0.2 ng of Se, As, Bi and Sb was detected and this is typically 10-fold better than the reported hydride detection limits by atomic absorption. The precision was better than 2% at the 50 ng level of the elements.     

Flame-in-gas-shield miniature flame hydride atomizers for ultra trace element determination by chemical vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Flame-in-gas shield miniature hydride atomizers (FIGS) have been investigated and evaluated in view of their alternative use to miniature diffusion flame hydride atomizer (MDF) to determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Chemical vapour generation (CVG) by aqueous phase derivatization by NaBH₄ in a continuous flow generator (CF) was employed for the generation of volatile hydrides of As, Sb, Bi, Se, Te and Sn. A dispersive AFS apparatus using electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL) as the excitation sources has been employed for both spectra acquisition and analytical determinations. The characteristics of FIGS in terms of background emission spectra, most intense AF spectral lines and limits of detection were compared with those of most popular MDF. FIGS presents a lower background emission with respect to MDF, allowing also the control of the molecular fluorescence of OH radicals in the determination of bismuth. Limits of detection for FIGS compare very well with to those obtained by MDF giving improvement factor of 5.5, 4.4, 3.6, 3.6, 0.7 an 0.5 for Bi, As, Se, Son, Te and Sb. Accuracy of FIGS has proven by determination of arsenic and antimony in seawater (NASS-5) and river water (SRLS-4) certified reference materials and bismuth in unalloyed copper (CuV 398, CuVI 399) standard reference materials by dispersive CVG-AFS.     

UV photochemical vapor generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of conventional hydride generation elements

A systematic investigation of UV photochemical vapor generation (photo-CVG) and its potential application for seven typical hydride-forming elements (As, Sb, Bi, Te, Sn, Pb and Cd) when combined with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) detection is presented. These analyte ions were converted to volatile species following UV irradiation of their aqueous solution to which low molecular weight organic acids (such as formic, acetic or propionic acid) had been added, and introduced to an atomic fluorescence spectrometer for subsequent analytical measurements. The experimental conditions for photo-CVG and the interferences arising from concomitant elements were carefully investigated. Limits of detection as low as 0.08, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ng mL^− 1 were obtained for Te, Bi, Sb and As, respectively, comparable to those by hydride generation-AFS. The RSDs obtained with the proposed method for these elements were better than 5% at 50 ng mL^− 1. It is noteworthy that the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles combined with UV irradiation remarkably enhances the CVG efficiencies of Se(VI) and Te(VI), which cannot form hydrides with KBH₄/NaBH₄. Moreover, photo-CVG has a greater tolerance toward interferences arising from transition elements than hydride generation, and this facilitates its application to the analysis of complicated sample matrices.     

分子筛USY负载硼化钴非晶态合金催化剂的制备及其在催化硼氢化钠水解制氢中的应用

采用浸渍法与化学还原法相结合制备了一系列USY型分子筛负载非晶态合金硼化钴(CoB/USY)催化剂,并系统探究了该催化剂在催化硼氢化钠水解制氢中的催化活性。 XRD表征表明,USY分子筛载体上负载的活性组分CoB属于非晶态结构。 通过扫描电子显微镜,对比了负载型CoB/USY催化剂和粉末状CoB催化剂的微观形貌,发现非晶态合金活性组分CoB能够很好的分布在USY分子筛载体表面,较粉末状CoB有更高的分散度。 催化硼氢化钠水解制氢实验结果表明,相对于粉末状CoB催化剂,负载型CoB/USY催化剂在硼氢化钠水解制氢中具有更高的催化活性,30 ℃时NaBH₄水解产氢速率约为1.5 L/(min·g)。 反应动力学的计算结果显示,负载型CoB/USY催化剂在催化NaBH₄水解制氢反应中表观活化能约为65.9 kJ/mol,大大低于粉末状CoB催化剂的活化能(72.1 kJ/mol)。     

As, Bi, Sb and Sn determination in atmospheric particulate matter by direct solid sampling-hydride generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel, rapid and simple method by hydride generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-ETAAS) after direct As, Bi, Sb and Sn hydrides generation from untreated filters of atmospheric particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) was optimised. PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were not subjected to any pre-treatment: circular portions between 0.28 and 6.28 cm² were directly placed into the reaction vessel of a batch mode generation system. A 2⁸ × 3/64 Plackett–Burman design was used as a multivariate strategy for the evaluation of the effects of several variables affecting the hydride generation, trapping and atomisation efficiencies. Trapping temperature was the most statistically significant variable for As, Bi and Sn. Atomisation temperature was also statistically significant for Sb determination. Optimum values of significant variables were selected by using univariate optimisation approaches. An aqueous calibration method was used throughout. The developed method has been found to be precise with relative standard deviations of 6.2, 5.3, 9.1 and 7.5% for 11 determinations in a filter sample containing 0.7, 1.0, 1.4 and 1.7 μg l⁻¹ for As, Bi, Sb and Sn, respectively. Results obtained by direct solid sampling-HG-ETAAS have been found statistically comparable with those obtained after conventional method based on an acid digestion followed to ICP-MS. Absolute detection limits were 37, 15, 30, and 41 ng l⁻¹ for As, Bi, Sb and Sn, respectively. Detection limits referred to the air volume sampled (in the range of 0.020–0.050 ng m⁻³) were low enough for the determination of several hydride-forming elements from PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected in a non-polluted suburban area of A Coruña (NW Spain).     

Hydride generation – in-atomizer collection of Pb in a quartz trap-and-atomizer device for atomic absorption spectrometry – an interference study

Interferences of selected hydride forming elements (As, Sb, Bi, Se and Sn) on lead determination by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry were extensively studied in both on-line atomization and preconcentration (collection) modes. The commonly used on-line atomization mode was found free of significant interferences, whereas strong interference from Bi was observed when employing the preconcentration mode with plumbane collection in a quartz trap-and-atomizer device. Interference of Bi seems to take place in the preconcentration step. Interference of Bi in the collection mode cannot be reduced by increased hydrogen radical amount in the trap and/or the atomizer.     

碱式模式氢化物发生原子荧光法测定食用菌中痕量锗

研究了碱式模式氢化物发生原子荧光法测定痕量锗。考察了HG－AFS仪器参数及氢化物发生条件对锗荧光强度的影响以及常见共存元素的干扰。在选定的最佳工作条件下,测定了真菌中的痕量锗。方法检出限（3σ）为0.76μg/L,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.81％,回收率为94.6％－101.3％。     

聚苯胺修饰电极-电化学氢化物发生原子荧光光谱法测定食品中锡含量

运用以聚苯胺修饰的石墨电极为阴极的电化学氢化物发生装置实现了锡元素的电化学氢化物发生.在电极表面聚合一层聚苯胺,能够有效地提高锡元素的电化学氢化物发生效率,通过与原子荧光光谱仪联用,成功地测定了食品中的锡含量.本工作对各种实验参数和干扰情况进行了详细研究.方法对锡的检出限为1.2 ng/mL(3σ)；样品分析精密度(R...     

Interferences in electrochemical hydride generation of hydrogen selenide

Interferences from Cu(II), Zn(II), Pt(IV), As(III) and nitrate on electrochemical hydride generation of hydrogen selenide were studied using a tubular flow-through generator, flow injection sample introduction and quartz tube atomic absorption spectrometry. Comparison with conventional chemical generation using tetrahydroborate was also performed. Lead and reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC), both in particulate form, were used as cathode materials. Signal supressions up to 60–75%, depending on the cathode material, were obtained in the presence of up to 200 mg l⁻¹ of nitrate due to the competitive reduction of the anion. Interference from As(III) was similar in electrochemical and chemical generation, being related to the quartz tube atomization process. Zinc did not interfere up to Se/Zn ratios 1:100, whereas copper and platinum showed suppression levels up to 50% for Se/interferent ratios 1:100. Total signal suppression was observed in presence of Se/Cu ratios 1:100 when RVC cathodes were used. No memory effects were observed in any case. Scanning electron microscopy and squared wave voltametry studies supported the interference mechanism based on the decomposition of the hydride on the dispersed particles of the reduced metal.     

Hyphenation of flow injection/sequential injection with chemical hydride/vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The dominant role played by flow injection/sequential injection (FI/SI, including lab-on-valve, LOV) in automatic on-line sample pretreatments coupling to various detection techniques is amply demonstrated by the large number of publications it has given rise to. Among these, its hyphenation with hydride/vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG/VG-AFS) has become one of the most attractive sub-branches during the last years, attributed not only to the high sensitivity of this technique, but also to the superb separation capability of hydride/vapor forming elements from complex sample matrices. In addition, it also provides potentials for the speciation of the elements of interest.It is worth mentioning that quite a few novel developments of sample pretreatment have emerged recently, which attracted extensive attentions from the related fields of research. The aim of this mini-review is thus to illustrate the state-of-the-art progress of implementing flow injection/sequential injection and miniaturized lab-on-valve systems for on-line hydride/vapor generation separation and preconcentration of vapor forming elements followed with detection by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, within the period from 2004 up to now. Future perspectives in this field are also discussed.     

Determination of tin in steels by non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with flow-injection hydride generation in the presence of L-cysteine

Flow-injection hydride generation has been coupled with a non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometer for the determination of trace concentrations of tin. The use of L-cysteine in stannane generation enhances the atomic fluorescence signal for tin. In addition, it appears that the flow-injection method allows the use of a wider range of acid concentrations, and hence interference from transition elements is also reduced. An absolute detection limit of 1.3 ng was achieved with a 0.5 ml sample. Ten determinations of a solution containing 100 ng ml⁻¹ of tin(H) generated a relative standard deviation of 1.8%. The linear dynamic range of the calibration curve extended over three orders of magnitude and sample throughput rate was 144 samples h⁻¹. Application of the proposed technique is demonstrated by the determination of tin in low alloy steel standard reference materials.     

Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometric Determination of Ultratrace Arsenic in High Purity Indium Oxide

A simple, sensitive, and interference free method was proposed for the determination of total arsenic in high purity indium oxide by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). Preconcentration was carried out by distillation of volatile arsenic trichloride. Hydrazine sulfate was used as a prereductant to reduce As (V) to As (III). The volatile arsenic trichloride generation was based on the reaction between As (III) and hydrochloric acid, and vapors were absorbed with water. The method provides a linear response range of 2 ng/mL–70 ng/mL, a detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL, a recovery of 96%–113%, and an average relative standard deviation of 2.42%. The method was validated by means of interlaboratory comparative analysis with the proposed method HG-AFS, and the comparison of data by using proposed method HG-AFS and reference methods of ICP-OES and spectrophotometry.