Simultaneous determination of iron,cadmium and lead in zinc by proton activation analysis

Iron, cadmium and lead are determined in zinc by proton activation followed by chemical separation of the indicator radionuclides. The method provides detection limits of 0.03, 0.008 ad 0.1 μg g^?1 for iron, cadmium and lead, respectively. The BCR Unalloyed Zinc reference material 321 was analysed. Concentrations of 2.23, 0.215 and 4.641 μg g^? with 1–7% relative standard deviation were obtained for iron, cadmium and lead, respectively. These results contributed to the provisional certification of the reference material.     

Microtitrimetric and photometric determination of sulphur in metals in the low μg g-1 range after wet or dry evolution of hydrogen sulphide

Wet and dry techniques have been optimized for the separation of sulphur traces from metals (e.g. Ag, Cu, Cu alloys, Pb, Sn, Fe) as hydrogen sulphide, in combination with a final microtitrimetric or spectrophotomefcric determination. The metal sample can be dissolved in a mixture of hydroiodic, formic and hypophosphorous acids, and the evolved hydrogen sulphide swept with nitrogen into an absorption vessel. Alternatively, in the hydrogenation technique, the metal sample is heated in a stream of pure hydrogen up to ?1150°C and the hydrogen sulphide produced is absorbed in sodium hydroxide solution or cadmium hydroxide suspension. The sulphide is determined in the absorption vessel by microtitration with cadmium(II) titrant and dithizone as indicator. The methylene blue colour reaction is applied for the speetrophotometric determination. Precautions are taken to avoid systematic errors (losses by absorption, contamination by laboratory air) and to lower reagent blanks, so that concentrations as low as ?0.2 μg g^-1 (sample weight ?1 g) can be determined. The coefficients of variations are ?10% and 2.5% at concentration ranges of 1–10 μg g^-1 and > 10 μg g^-1, respectively.     

Determination of soluble cyanide in soil samples by differential pulse polarography

Soluble cyanide can be determined ins oil samples by differential pulse polarography. Interference from sulphide is avoided by treating the alkali-stabilized sample solutions with lead carbonate prior to distillation of cyanide from the soil extract. Less than 10 μg l^?1 cyanide can be determined accurately, depending on teh weight of sample taken and the final collection volume. For a 100-g soil sample, the detection limit is 5 ng g^?1, which is similar to the limit of a standard spectrophotometric method. Relative standard deviations are 1–3%.     

A method of determining and removing sulphide to allow the determination of sulphate,phosphate, nitrite and ammonia by conventional methods in small volumes of anoxic waters

Mercury(II) chloride is used to precipitate free sulphide from <10-ml samples of anoxic water. The sulphide-free supernatant solution can be used for estimation of sulphide by measuring the concentration of unreacted mercury(II) ion and for determinations of sulphate, inorganic phosphate, ammonia and nitrite by spectrophotometric methods which normally cannot be used because of sulphide interference. Concentrations that can be determined lie within the ranges: sulphide 0.5–180 000 μg S l^?1, sulphate 0.024–2.77 g S l^?1, ammonia 1–70 000 μg N l^?1, nitrite 1–3000 μg N l^?1, inorganic phosphate 1–4000 μg P l^?1. Interstitial waters from estuarine sediments, tidal flats, mangrove swamps, and an anoxic estuarine basin were examined.     

Determination of arsenic in steel and cast iron by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure is described for the determination of arsenic in steel and cast iron by atomic absorption spectrometry after hydride generation with sodium tetrahydroborate. The samples are decomposed with a nitric/perchloric acid mixture. The data are evaluated directly against acidic standard solutions of arsenic(V). The limit of detection is about 1 μg g^?1 and the precision is better than 4% for concentrations exceeding 10 μg g^?1.     

Differential preconcentration of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) with thionalide loaded on silica gel

2-Mercapto-N-2-naphtylacetamide (thionalide) on silica gel is used for differential preconcentration of μg l^?1 levels of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) from aqueous solution. In batch experiments, arsenic(III) was quantitatively retained on the gel from solutions of pH 6.5–8.5, but arsenic(V) and organic arsenic compounds were not retained. The chelating capacity of the gel was 5.6 μmol g^?1 As(III) at pH 7.0. Arsenic retained on teh column was completely eluted with 25 ml of 0.01 M sodium borate in 0.01 M sodium hydroxide containing 10 mg l^?1 iodine (pH 10). The arsenic was determined by silver diethyldithiocarbamate spectrophotometry. Arsenic(V) was subsequently determined after reduction to arsenic(III) with sulphite and iodide. Arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) in sea water are shown to be < 0.12 and 1.6 μg l^?1, respectively.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper in calcium carbonate scale and carbonate rocks by direct atomization of solid samples

Powdered samples (1 mg) are mixed with 1 mg of powdered graphite and copper is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in a miniature graphite cup placed in a graphite crucible. Optimum conditions were drying at 200 °C (30 s), ashing at 900 °C (30 s), atomizing at 2700 °C (15 s) and cleaning at 2800 °C (10 s). Samples were powdered to 1–10 μm particle size. Magnesium, manganese and iron did not interfere. The effect of calcium carbonate was eliminated by the graphite addition. Results for copper (0.5–5 μg g^?1) in the scale and rocks agreed well with values obtained for dissolved samples. Relative standard deviations (n=10) were 4.9% for 1.2 μg g^?1 copper and 14.8% for 0.577 μg g^?1.     

Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric determination of ruthenium in iron meteorites

A procedure for the determination of ruthenium in iron meteorites involves its oxidation to RuO₄ by sodium periodate in hydrochloric acid and extraction of the tetroxide into chloroform. Various parameters of the method were studied: sample dissolution, optimum amount of oxidant, shaking time, distribution ratio and stability of the complex. The relative standard deviation assessed from replicate analyses of the North Chile iron meteorite was 6.6%. There are no certified standards for iron meteorites, but the value of 20.0 μg g^? obtained for this meteorite compares well with a reported abundance of 19.3 μg g^?1 obtained by radiometric neutron-activation analysis (RNAA). The analysis of 15 meteorites that had previously been analysed by RNAA gave values averaging 11% below those reported by the latter method, but within the standard deviation of the RNAA data. It is considered that the present method is a more practical alternative to RNAA for the determination of ruthenium in iron meteorites.     

Determination of Iodine in Cereal Grains and Standard Reference Materials by Neutron Activation Anaylsis

Abstract

Trace amounts of iodine in thirty-eight cereal grain samples cultivated at different locations in Austria were determined for the first time in this study by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. For the dissolution of cereal grain samples and standard reference materials, two different procedures, alkaline and acidic dissolution, were applied in the presence of an iodine carrier. Rapid and simple dissolution procedure with acidic solution was demonstrated in this study. The analytical values in the cereal grain as well as in the standard reference materials obtained by the different dissolution procedures were in good agreement within one standard deviation. The iodine in cereal grains and the standard reference materials ranged from 0.002 to 0.03 μg g^?-1 and 0.0015 to 0.30 μg g^?-1, respectively. The distribution of relative standard deviation (RSD) for iodine concentration below 0.01 μg g^?-1 were 21% and 24% of all data for the range 1–10% RSD and 11–20% RSD, respectively. The RSD for 0.1 μg g^?1 of iodine concentrations were around 10%     

Röntgenfluorimetrische Bestimmung von Sulfidspuren im ppb-Bereich in wäßrigen Lösungen nach Austauschreaktion an dünnen Silberhalogenidschichten

Sulphide concentrations in the ppm and ppb range can be determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in aqueous solutions with a volume up to 3 l. The solution to be analysed is passed through a thin layer of a silver halide precipitate whereby the sulphide ions are held back as silver sulphide. The membrane filter with the silver halide deposit is directly used for measuring the X-ray intensity from sulphur. The experimental conditions used include: 2?=23.20°, KAP, X-ray tube with a chromium anode, 50 kV, 40 mA, and a throughflow proportional counter. Interferences of numerous accompanying components were investigated as well as the stability of solutions with very low sulphide concentrations. These solutions can be stabilized sufficiently with ascorbic acid at pH 12, but in the case of natural water only in presence of zinc ions. The method is applicable to sulphide amounts greater than 0.1 μg. The variation coefficient for sulphide amounts of ≈ 10 μg was found to be 2.3%.     

Entwicklung einer flieβinjectionsmethode zur bestimmung von chlorid im spurenbereich durch leitfähighkeitsdiffernzenA flow-injection method for the determination of trace amounts of chloride

The indirect determination of chloride in water is based on measurement of the difference in conductivity after the sample has passed through ion-exchange columns in the hydrogen form and silver form. The linear response range is about 0.5–10 μg g^?1 chloride (with 3 μg g^?1 nitrate and 5 μg g^?1 sulfate); the detection limit is about 50 ng g^?1 chloride but depends strongly on the concentrations of other anions.     

Magnetic solid-phase extraction of rose bengal using iron oxide nanoparticles modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

Magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) based on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (C-MIONPs) was investigated for the separation, preconcentration and determination of Rose Bengal (RB) in aqueous solutions. The influences of different analytical parameters such as pH, temperature, ionic strength, volume of desorbent solvent, amount of adsorbent and interfering ions in the adsorption of RB on C-MIONPs were investigated. The RB adsorption on C-MIONPs follows Langmuir isotherm. The sizes of C-MIONPs were in the range of 20–80 nm. The method was capable of determining RB concentration in the range of 0.01–1.20 μg ml^?1. The limit of detection (LOD) of RB based on three times the standard deviation of the blank (3Sb) was found to be 5.91 × 10–3 μg ml^?1 (n = 8). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 0.3 μg ml^?1 and 0.8 μg ml^?1 of RB were 4.1% and 1.1%, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of RB in Brucella Antigen solution and water samples from the Karoon River.     

Colorimetric Determination of Sulphur Dioxide and Sulphites in Various Environmental Samples

Rhodamine‐B has been proposed as a simple and sensitive colorimetric reagent for the estimation of sulphur dioxide in air. The air sample containing sulphur dioxide is passed through the absorbing solution of aqueous potassium iodate and N‐chlorosuccinimide to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the pinkish red coloured rhodamine‐B dye, which measured at 555 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 0.5–5.0 μg, of sulphite per 25 mL (0.02–0.2 ppm) equivalent to 0.4–4.0 μg of sulphur dioxide (0.016–0.16 ppm). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 4.56 × 10⁵ l mol^?1 cm^?1 and 0.00017 μg cm^?2, respectively. The method has been suitably modified and successfully applied to the determination of sulphites in water after liberation of sulphur dioxide in acidic medium.     

Determination of trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron and steel by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after reductive coprecipitation

Trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron or steel were preconcentrated by reductive coprecipitation with palladium using ascorbic acid, and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). Both gold and silver could be simultaneously separated and sensitively determined in 10 metals (aluminum, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium and zinc). Comparable values were obtained for gold and silver in reference materials (low alloy steel) by the proposed method and a non-separation method; good agreement was found between the analytical values by both methods and the certified values. The proposed method is easy, simple and not dependent on sample composition and content. Moreover, gold and silver in metal samples could be simultaneously separated together with selenium and tellurium. The detection limits for gold and silver (3 σ) are 0.003 μg g^–1 and 0.002 μg g^–1, respectively. Received: 3 February 2000 / Revised: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 April 2000     

Determination of trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron and steel by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after reductive coprecipitation

Trace amounts of gold and silver in high-purity iron or steel were preconcentrated by reductive coprecipitation with palladium using ascorbic acid, and determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). Both gold and silver could be simultaneously separated and sensitively determined in 10 metals (aluminum, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium and zinc). Comparable values were obtained for gold and silver in reference materials (low alloy steel) by the proposed method and a non-separation method; good agreement was found between the analytical values by both methods and the certified values. The proposed method is easy, simple and not dependent on sample composition and content. Moreover, gold and silver in metal samples could be simultaneously separated together with selenium and tellurium. The detection limits for gold and silver (3 σ) are 0.003 μg g^–1 and 0.002 μg g^–1, respectively. Received: 3 February 2000 / Revised: 11 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 April 2000     

Flow injection spectrophotometry followed by atomic Absorption spectrometry for the determination of iron(II) and total iron

In the flow system described, iron(II) is measured spectrophotometrically with 1,10-phenanthroline, and total iron is determined in the same flow line by atomic absorption spectrometry. Linear calibration ranges are 0.1–35 and 0.1–10 μg ml^?1 for iron(II) and total iron, respectively.     

Solvent extraction and spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) with 2,2′-dipyridyl-2-furancarbothiohydrazone

2,2′-Dipyridyl-2-furancarbothiohydrazone (DPFTH) was used for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amount of iron(II) after the extraction process. Iron(II) can be quantitatively extracted with DPFTH in benzene from aqueous solution buffered to 3.0–8.0. The extracted species has absorption maxima at 440, 477, and 738 nm and obeyed Beer's law over the range 0–40 μg of iron in 10 ml at 738 nm. The molar absorptivity at this wave length is 1.17 × 10⁴ liters mole^?1 cm^?1. The proposed method is relatively selective for iron(II) and is satisfactorily applied to the determination of the total iron in natural waters. The proton dissociation constants of the ligand determined spectrophotometrically were pK_a1 = 2.88 and pK_a1 = 6.70 at 25 °C and μ = 0.1.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of traces of iron in solar-grade silicon

Iron is determined, after volatilization of the matrix as hexafluorosilicic acid, by means of the polarographic iron(III) wave in a 0.1 M triethanolamine—0.1 M potassium bromate—0.5 M sodium hydroxide medium. Differential pulse polarography provides a detection limit of about 0.15 μg g^-1 with a precision of 1–2% and linear calibration graphs up to 0.5 μg Fe(III) ml^-1.     

Determination of antimony in steel by hydride generation and by electrothermal zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry

Procedures are described for the determination of antimony in steel. Samples by decomposed with a nitric/perchloric acid mixture and antimony is determined either by a.a.s. after hydride generation with sodium tetrahydroborate or by graphite-furnace a.a.s. with Zeeman background correction. Some reference steel samples were analyzed by both methods and by instrumental neutron activation. The results obtained (45–680 μg g^?1 antimony) were in very good agreement; detection limits were about 3 μg g^?1. The relative standard deviation for samples with > 50 μg g^?1 antimony was 〈 5%.     

Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry for the quantification of germanium in iron meteorites

A simple and inexpensive hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric procedure was developed for the quantification of germanium in iron meteorites. The final procedure involved dissolving the meteorite in nitric acid, dilution with water, addition of citrate to buffer the solution and complex the iron and liberation of germanium hydride with sodium tetrahydroborate. The hydride was collected in a liquid air trap and fed into a nitrogen-hydrogen-air-entrained flame. The limit of detection (2σ) was 0.03 μg g^?1 in the original meteorite and the r.s.d, was 3.9% for ten replicate analyses of the Toluca meteorite. The germanium content of this meteorite was 246 αg^?1, the same as that obtained by neutron activation analyses (NAA). Analyses of nine iron meteorites afforded values in agreement with those previously obtained by NAA.