Carbon Nanofibers as Solid‐Phase Extraction Adsorbent for the Preconcentration of Trace Rare Earth Elements and Their Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Systematic investigations were carried out into the sorption of rare earth elements (REEs) on carbon nonofibers (CNFs) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The experimental parameters for preconcentration of REEs, such as pH, sample flow rate and volume, eluent concentration, and interfering ions on preconcentration of REEs have been examined in detail. The studied metal ions can be adsorbed quantitatively on CNFs in a pH range from 2.0 to 5.0, and then eluted completely with 0.5 mol l^?1 HNO₃. Based on the above facts, a novel method using a microcolumn packed with carbon nanofibers as an adsorption material was developed for the separation and preconcentration of REEs prior to their determination by ICP‐MS. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of light (La), medium (Eu and Gd) and heavy (Yb) rare earth elements in real sample with the recovery more than 90%. In order to validate this method, two certified reference materials of tea leaves (GBW 07605) and mussel (GBW 08571) were analyzed, and the determined values are in good agreement with the certified values.     

Determination of rare earth elements in seawater by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with off-line column preconcentration using 2,6-diacetylpyridine functionalized Amberlite XAD-4

An off-line column preconcentration technique using a micro-column of 2,6 diacetylpyridine functionalized Amberlite XAD-4 with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as a means of detection has been developed. The aim of the method was to determine rare earth elements (REEs) (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) in seawater. Sample solutions (2–10 mL) were passed through the column which was then washed with ultra-pure water to remove residual matrix. The adsorbed cations on the resin were eluted by using 2 mL of 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ containing 10 ng mL⁻¹ indium as an internal standard. The eluent was analyzed for the metal concentrations using ICP-MS. Sample pH as well as the sample and eluent flow rates were optimized. The sorption capacity of resin was determined by the batch process, by equilibrating 0.05 g of the resin with solutions of 50 mL of 25 mg L⁻¹ of individual metal ions for 4 h at pH 6.0 at 26 °C. The sorption capacities for the resin were found to range between 47.3 μmol g⁻¹ (for Lu) and 136.7 μmol g⁻¹ (for Gd). Limits of detection (3σ), without any preconcentration, ranged from 2 ng L⁻¹ to 10.3 ng L⁻¹ (for Tm and Lu respectively). The proposed method was applied to the determination of REEs in seawater and tap water samples.     

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes microcolumn preconcentration and determination of gold in geological and water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The potential of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the separation and preconcentration of gold has been investigated. Gold could be adsorbed quantitatively on MWNTs in the pH range of 1–6, and then eluted completely with 2 mL of 3% thiourea in 1 mol L^− 1 HCl solution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL min^− 1. A new method using a microcolumn packed with MWNTs as sorbent has been developed for the preconcentration of trace amount of Au prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Parameters influencing the preconcentration of Au, such as pH of the sample, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions, have been examined and optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the detection limit of this method for Au was 0.15 µg L^− 1 with an enrichment factor of 75, and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D) was 3.1% at the 100 µg L^− 1 Au level. The method has been applied for the determination of trace amount of Au in geological and water samples with satisfactory results.     

On-line preconcentration with a novel alkyl phosphinic acid extraction resin coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for determination of trace rare earth elements in seawater

A newly synthesized alkyl phosphinic acid resin (APAR) was used for on-line preconcentration of trace rare earth elements (REES, lanthanides including yttrium) and then determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. REEs in seawater could be on-line concentrated on the APAR packed column (4.6 mm i.d. × 50 mm in length), and eluted from the column with 0.5 mL 0.1 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid within 30 s. An enrichment factor of nearly 400 was achieved for all REEs when the seawater sample volume was 200 mL, while the matrix and coexisting spectrally interfering ions such as barium, tin and antimony could be simultaneously separated. The detection limits of this proposed method for REEs were in the range from 1.43 pg L⁻¹ of holmium to 12.7 pg L⁻¹ of lanthanum. The recoveries of REEs were higher than 97.9%, and the precision of the relative standard deviation (R.S.D., n = 6) was less than 5%. The method has been applied to the determination of soluble REEs in seawater.     

Novel Sorbent Extraction Technique Using a Chelating Agent Impregnated Porous PTFE Filter Tube: Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with Bis(2‐Ethyl‐Hexyl)Hydrogen Phosphate (HDEHP) Loaded Porous PTFE Filter Tube Prior to Determination by ICP‐MS

Abstract

Sorbent extraction and elution of rare earth elements (REEs) by using bis(2‐ethyl‐hexyl)hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) impregnated porous PTFE filter tube were studied. A 100 ng amount of each REEs was quantitatively extracted by filtering 1000 mL of matrix‐free solution under pH 2.0–3.2. For a synthetic seawater sample, extractability of lighter REEs (La–Sm) was lowered; optimum pH range to simultaneously extract all REEs was shifted to 2.9–3.2, and limit of sample volume for quantitative extraction was decreased to 100 mL for La–Sm [although heavier REEs (Eu–Lu) were quantitatively extracted from 1000 mL]. Extracted REEs were quantitatively eluted by filtering through 5 mL of 10 mol/L^?1 hydrochloric acid to the tube. Hence, maximum preconcentration factors were of 200‐ and 20‐fold for Nd–Lu and La–Sm, respectively. Total recovery of 0.5–10 ng of REEs spiked to 300 mL of natural sea salt solution was tested; quantitative recovery (95.9% for Gd–102% for Eu) were obtained for all REEs except La (54.9%). The REEs in the natural sea salt solution were also determined by ICP‐MS after preconcentration with the present method [RSD=16% (La)–1.1% (Yb), n=3].     

Determination of REEs in seawater by ICP-MS after on-line preconcentration using a syringe-driven chelating column

A syringe-driven chelating column (SDCC) was applied to develop an on-line preconcentration/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for preconcentration and determination of rare earth elements (REEs) in seawater samples. The present on-line preconcentration system consists of only one pump, two valves, an SDCC, an ICP-MS, several connectors, and Teflon tubes. Optimizations of adsorption pH condition, sample loading flow rate, and integration range were carried out to achieve optimum measurement conditions for REEs in seawater sample. Six minutes was enough for a preconcentration and measurement cycle using 10 mL of seawater sample, where the detection limits for different REEs were in the range of 0.005 pg mL⁻¹ to 0.09 pg mL⁻¹. Analytical results of REEs in a seawater certified reference material (CRM), NASS-5, confirmed the usefulness of the present method. Furthermore, concentrations of REEs in Nikkawa Beach coastal seawater were determined and discussed with shale normalized REE distribution pattern.     

Application of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid phase extraction sorbent for preconcentration of trace copper in water samples

The adsorption behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) toward copper has been investigated systemically, and a new method has been developed for the determination of trace copper in water samples based on preconcentration with a microcolumn packed with MWNTs prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of copper, such as pH of the sample, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions, have been investigated. Copper can be quantitatively retained by MWNTs in the pH range 5-8, and then eluted completely with 0.5 M HNO3. The detection limit of this method for Cu was 0.42 ng/mL, and the RSD was 3.5% at the 10 ng/mL Cu level. The method was validated using a certified reference material, and has been successfully applied for the determination of trace copper in water samples.     

Determination of trace molybdenum in biological and water samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after separation and preconcentration on immobilized titanium dioxide nanoparticles

A new method has been developed for the determination of trace molybdenum based on separation and preconcentration with TiO₂ nanoparticles immobilized on silica gel (immobilized TiO₂ nanoparticles) prior to its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of molybdenum, such as pH of the sample, sample flow rate and volume, eluent and interfering ions, have been investigated. Molybdenum can be quantitatively retained by immobilized TiO₂ nanoparticles at pH 1.0 and separated from the metal cations in the solution, then eluted completely with 0.5 mol L^?1 NaOH. The detection limit of this method for Mo was 0.6 ng L^?1 with an enrichment factor of 100, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.4% at the 10 ng mL^?1 Mo level. The method has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of Mo in biological and water samples with satisfactory results.     

Use of a microcolumn packed with modified carbon nanofibers coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for simultaneous on-line preconcentration and determination of trace rare earth elements in biological samples

In this work, a new method was developed for the determination of trace rare earth elements (REEs) in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after preconcentration on a microcolumn packed with modified carbon nanofibers (CNFs). CNFs oxidized with nitric acid have been proved to possess an exceptional adsorption capability for REEs due to their surface functionalization. The effects of the experimental parameters, including pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions, on the recoveries of the analytes have been investigated systematically. A 100-fold enrichment factor was obtained. The adsorption capacity of CNFs was found to be 18.1, 19.3, 23.6, 17.6, 22.3 and 19.5 mg/g for La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Dy and Y, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits of this method ranged from 0.2 pg/mL (Dy) to 1.2 pg/mL (Ce) with an enrichment factor of 15-fold, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the determination of REEs at the 1.0 ng/mL level were less than 4% (n = 9). This method was applied to the analysis of trace REEs in a real sample of human hair with recoveries of 95-115%. In order to validate the proposed method, a certified reference material of human hair (GBW 07601) was analyzed with satisfactory results.     

Flow injection on-line solid phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for determination of (Ultra)trace rare earth elements in environmental materials using maleic acid grafted polytetrafluoroethylene fibers as sorbent

A new sorbent, maleic acid grafted polytetrafluoroethylene fiber (MA-PTFE), was prepared and evaluated for on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for fast, selective, and sensitive determination of (ultra)trace rare earth elements (REEs) in environmental samples. The REEs in aqueous samples at pH = 3.0 were selectively extracted onto a microcolumn packed with the MA-PTFE fiber, and the adsorbed REEs were subsequently eluted on-line with 0.9 mol l(-1) HNO3 for ICP-MS determination. The new sorbent extraction system allows effective preconcentration and separation of the REEs from the major matrix constituents of alkali and alkali earth elements, particularly their separation from barium that produces considerable isobaric interferences of 134Ba16O1H+, 135Ba16O+, 136Ba16O1H+, and 137Ba16O+ on 151Eu+ and 153Eu+. With the use of a sample loading flow rate of 7.4 ml min(-1) for 120 s preconcentration, enhancement factors of 69-97 and detection limits (3s) of 1-20 pg l(-1) were achieved at a sample throughput of 22 samples h(-1). The precision (RSD) for 16 replicate determinations of 50 ng l(-1) of REEs was 0.5-1.1%. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of (ultra)trace REEs in sediment, soil, and seawater samples.     

Polymer monolithic capillary microextraction combined on‐line with inductively coupled plasma MS for the determination of trace rare earth elements in biological samples

A rapid and sensitive method based on polymer monolithic capillary microextraction combined on‐line with microconcentric nebulization inductively coupled plasma MS has been developed for the determination of trace/ultratrace rare earth elements in biological samples. For this purpose, the iminodiacetic acid modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) monolithic capillary was prepared and characterized by SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. Factors affecting the extraction efficiency, such as sample pH, sample flow rate, sample/eluent volume, and coexisting ions were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs for rare earth elements were in the range of 0.08 (Er) to 0.97 ng/L (Nd) with a sampling frequency of 8.5 h^?1, and the RSDs were between 1.5% (Sm) and 7.4% (Nd) (c = 20 ng/L, n = 7). The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of trace/ultratrace rare earth elements in human urine and serum samples, and the recoveries for the spiked samples were in the range of 82–105%. The developed method was simple, rapid, sensitive, and favorable for the analysis of trace/ultratrace rare earth elements in biological samples with limited sample volume.     

Liquid–Liquid–Liquid Micro Extraction Combined with CE for the Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Water Samples

A simple method for determination of rare earth elements (REEs) by liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction (LLLME) coupled with capillary electrophoresis and ultraviolet technique was developed. In the LLLME system, 40 mmol L^?1 4-benzoyl-3-methy-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolinone (PMBP) acted as extractant and 4% (v/v) formic acid was used as back-extraction solution. The parameters influencing the LLLME, including the type of the organic solvent, sample pH, formic acid concentration, PMBP concentration, extraction time, volume of organic solvent, stirring rate and phase volume ratio, were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits (S/N = 3) of REEs were in the range of 0.19–0.70 ng mL^?1. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of REEs in water samples.     

ICP-AES determination of trace rare earth elements in environmental and food samples by on-line separation and preconcentration with acetylacetone-modified silica gel using microcolumn.

A novel method of online microcolumn separation and preconcentration coupled to inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with the use of acetylacetone-modified silica gel as packing material was developed for the determination of trace rare earth elements (REEs) in environmental and food samples. The main parameters affecting online separation/preconcentration, including pH, sample flow rate, sample volume, elution and interfering ions, have been investigated in detail. Under the optimized operating conditions, the adsorption capacity values for Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu were 25.65, 23.23, 24.01, 19.40, 22.89, 23.77, 24.40, 23.96, 25.58, 25.15, 24.86, 22.75, 16.05, 24.13, 26.51 and 27.93 mg g(-1), respectively. Detection limits (3sigma) based on three times standard deviations of the blanks by 8 replicates were in the range from 48 pg mL(-1) for Lu to 1003 pg mL(-1) for Sm. With 90 s preconcentration time and 10 s elution time, the enrichment factor was 10 and the sample frequency was 28 h(-1). The precisions (RSDs) obtained by determination of a 250 ng mL(-1) (n = 8) REEs standard solution were in the range from 1.7% for Y to 4.4% for Sm. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace REEs in pig liver, agaric and mushroom. To validate the proposed method, we analyzed three certified reference materials (GBW07401 soil, GBW07301a sediment, and GBW07605 tea leaves). The determined values were in a good agreement with the certified values. The method is rapid, selective, sensitive and applicable to the determination of trace REEs in biological and environmental samples with complicated matrix effects.     

Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements in Seawater with Chelating Resin Having Fluorinated β‐Diketone Immobilized on Styrene Divinyl Benzene for their Determination by ICP‐OES

An analytical method has been developed for the preconcentration of rare earth elements (REEs) in seawater for their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). An indigenously synthesized chelating resin was used for the preconcentration of (REEs) which was based on immobilization of fluorinated β‐diketone group on solid support styrene divinyl benzene. Sample solutions (adjusted to optimized pH) were passed through a polyethylene column packed with 250 mg of the resin. Experimental conditions consisting of pH, sample flow rate, sample volume and eluent concentration were optimized. The established method has been applied for the preconcentration of light, medium and heavy REEs in coastal sea water samples for their subsequent determination by (ICP‐OES). Percentage recoveries of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb and Lu were ≥ 95%, a preconcentration factor of 200 times, and relative standard deviations < 5% were achieved.     

Use of chelating resins and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for simultaneous determination of trace and major elements in small volumes of saline water samples

For some saline environments (e.g. deeply percolating groundwater, interstitial water in marine sediments, water sample collected after several steps of fractionation) the volume of water sample available is limited. A technique is presented which enables simultaneous determination of major and trace elements after preconcentration of only 60 mL sample on chelating resins. Chelex-100 and Chelamine were used for the preconcentration of trace elements (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sc) and rare earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Yb) from saline water before their measurement by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Retention of the major elements (Na, Ca, Mg) by the Chelamine resin was lower than by Chelex; this enabled their direct measurement in the solution after passage through the resin column. For trace metal recoveries both resins yield the same mass balance. Only Chelex resin enabled the quantitative recovery of rare earth elements. The major elements, trace metals and rare earth elements cannot be measured after passage through one resin only. The protocol proposes the initial use of Chelamine for measurement of trace and major elements and then passage the same sample through the Chelex resin for determination of the rare earth elements. The detection limit ranged from 1 to 12 pg mL^–1. At concentrations of 1 ng mL^–1 of trace metals and REE spiked in coastal water the precision for 10 replicates was in the range of 0.3–3.4% (RSD). The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by analyzing two standard reference waters, SLRS-3 and CASS-3.     

Flow injection on-line preconcentration with an ion-exchange resin coupled with microwave plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of trace rare earth elements

A sensitive and rapid on-line method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts rare earth elements (REEs), lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and yttrium, by microwave plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry (MPT-AES) combined with micro-column separation/preconcentration. A strong basic cinnamene anion exchange resin is used for matrix elimination and enrichment of the analytes. The adsorbed metal ions are subsequently eluted from the column and transferred into the detector with nitric acid solution for simultaneous multi-element determination. Various factors influencing the separation/preconcentration, sample flow rate, loading time, acidity and eluent flow rate, concentration, have been studied in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits for lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and yttrium based on three times of standard deviations of blank by 7 replicates are 0.89, 2.02, 1.56 and 0.78 μg·L^− 1, and the relative standard deviations are determined as 1.54, 4.29, 4.95 and 3.90%, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the analysis of the four REEs in high purity Sm₂O₃, Eu₂O₃, Gd₂O₃, Tb₂O₃, Dy₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, and Lu₂O₃ samples with a recovery range of 95.1-104.8%.     

流动注射微柱预富集等离子体原子发射光谱法测定高纯锌中痕量稀土元素

本文报道以DCS-偶氮胂固定于活性炭上作为固定相,用于流动注射微柱预富集体系和等离子体原子发射光谱测定痕量稀土元素.测定了吸附材料对稀土元素的静态和动态吸附容量,分别达几十和几个mg/g吸附材料;对影响柱预富集的PH、上柱速度、洗脱酸度、柱尺寸等因素进行了详细考察;在优化条件下,富集倍数为10倍左右.对La、Nd、Eu、Gd、Tb、Dy、Ho和 Lu等元素的检出限为 μg/L级,RSD在 1.5％～3.9％之间(n=6,单一稀土浓度0.085 mg/L).该法应用于高纯锌中痕量稀土元素的测定,试样加入回收率在 84.5％～97.6％之间,分析结果满意.     

Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Sorbent for Flow Injection On‐Line Microcolumn Preconcentration Coupled with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for Determination of Cadmium and Copper

Abstract

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as sorbent for flow injection (FI) on‐line microcolumn preconcentration coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for determination of trace cadmium and copper in environmental and biological samples. Effective preconcentration of trace cadmium and copper was achieved in a pH range of 4.5–6.5 and 5.0–7.5, respectively. The retained cadmium and copper were efficiently eluted with 0.5 mol L^?1 HCl for on‐line FAAS determination. The MWNTs packed microcolumn exhibited fairly fast kinetics for the adsorption of cadmium and copper, permitting the use of high sample flow rates up to at least 7.8 mL min^?1 for the FI on‐line microcolumn preconcentration system without loss of the retention efficiency. With a preconcentration time of 60 sec at a sample loading flow rate of 4.3 mL min^?1, the enhancement factor was 24 for cadmium and 25 for copper at a sample throughput of 45 h^?1. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.30 and 0.11 µg L^?1 for Cd and Cu, respectively. The precision (RSD) for 11 replicate measurements was 2.1% at the 10‐µg L^?1 Cd level and 2.4% at the 10‐µg L^?1 Cu level. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace Cd and Cu in a variety of environmental and biological samples.     

A magnesium hydroxide preconcentration/matrix reduction method for the analysis of rare earth elements in water samples using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This paper describes a simple method for simultaneous preconcentration and matrix reduction during the analysis of rare earth elements (REEs) in water samples through laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). From a systematic investigation of the co-precipitation of REEs using magnesium hydroxide, we optimized the effects of several parameters - the pH, the amount of magnesium, the shaking time, the efficiency of Ba removal, and the sample matrix - to ensure quantitative recoveries. We employed repetitive laser ablation to remove the dried-droplet samples from the filter medium and introduce them into the ICP-MS system for determinations of REEs. The enrichment factors ranged from 8 to 88. The detection limit, at an enrichment factor of 32, ranged from 0.03 to 0.20 pg mL⁻¹. The relative standard deviations for the determination of REEs at a concentration of 1 ng mL⁻¹ when processing 40 mL sample solution were 2.0-4.8%. We applied this method to the satisfactory determination of REEs in lake water and synthetic seawater samples.     

Application of iminodiacetate chelating resin muromac A-1 in on-line preconcentration and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy determination of trace elements in natural waters

On-line system incorporating a microcolumn of Muromac A-1 resin was used for the developing of method for preconcentration of trace elements followed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry determination. A chelating type ion exchange resin has been characterized regarding the sorption and subsequent elution of 24 elements, aiming to their preconcentration from water samples of different origins. The effect of column conditioning, pH and flow rate during the preconcentration step, and the nature of the acid medium employed for desorption of the retained elements were investigated. A sample (pH 5) is pumped through the column at 3 ml min⁻¹ and sequentially eluted directly to the ICP with 3 M HNO₃/HCl mixtures. In order to remove residual matrix elements from the column after sample loading a short buffer wash was found to be necessary. The effectiveness of the matrix separation process was illustrated. The procedure was validated by analyzing several simple matrices, Standard River water sample as well as artificial seawater. Proposed method can be applied for simultaneous determination of In, Tl, Ti, Y, Cd, Co, Cu and Ni in seawater and for multielement trace analysis of river water. Recovery at 1 μg l⁻¹ level for the determination of investigated 24 elements in pure water ranged from 93.1 to 96% except for Pd (82.2%) and Pb (88.1%). For the same concentration level for seawater analysis recovery was between 81.9 and 95.6% except for Hg (38.2%).