The analysis of volatile trace compounds in landfill gases,compost heaps and forest air

Landfill gas, cryotrapped on a loop fashioned from a length of a capillary gas chromatography (GC) column, was examined for volatile organometallic compounds (VOMCs) and for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by using GC–mass spectrometry (MS). A large number of organic components were present and many were identified, but the only VOMCs present in high enough concentrations to be detected were trimethylstibine and tetramethyltin. The use of inductively coupled plasma (ICP)‐MS as an element‐specific detector allowed the identification of a number of other organometallic species in the landfill gas, including trimethylarsine and trimethylbismuth, and, for the first time, butyltrimethyltin and dibutyldimethyltin. The presence of molybdenum hexacarbonyl was confirmed. Gas from a large‐scale compost heap and from compost incubated in the laboratory contained iodomethane but no common VOMCs (GC–ICP‐MS). Only VOCs were present in forest air (GC–MS). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

燃煤烟气中As、Se、Pb的形态分布及S、Cl元素对其形态分布的影响

基于化学热力学平衡分析方法，计算分析了燃煤烟气中重金属As、Se、Pb的形态分布规律，研究了S、Cl等元素对As、Se、Pb的形态分布规律的影响。结果表明，氧化性气氛下，As以As₂O₅、As₄O₆、AsO等氧化物的形式存在；Se主要以SeO₂形式存在；Pb在1000 K以下主要是固态PbSO₄，1200 K以上为气态PbO。还原性气氛下，As在较低温度时为固态As₂S₂，900-1400 K以As₂、AsS、AsN气体共存，2000 K以上全部转化为气态AsO。Se在1100 K以下主要以气态H₂Se存在，1100 K开始生成SeS和Se₂气体，1800 K时主要是气态Se和少量气态SeO；Pb在中低温时主要是PbS，1800 K以上气态Pb为主要存在形态。S在还原性气氛下增大了AsS（g）、PbS（g）、SeS（g）的比例，氧化性气氛下对As、Se、Pb形态分布基本无影响；Cl无论在氧化还是还原气氛下对As、Se影响均较小，但对Pb的形态分布影响较大。     

Ion chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of arsenic species in marine samples

Arsenic speciation analysis in marine samples was performed using ion chromatography (IC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) detection. The separation of eight arsenic species, viz. arsenite, monomethyl arsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenate, arsenobetaine, tetramethylarsine oxide, arsenocholine and tetramethylarsonium ion was achieved on a Dionex AS4A (weaker anion exchange column) by using a nitric acid pH gradient eluent (pH 3.3 to 1.3). The entire separation was accomplished in 12 min. The detection limits for the eight arsenic species by IC–ICP‐MS were in the range 0.03–1.6 µ g l^?1, based on 3σ of the blank response (n = 6). The repeatability and day‐to‐day reproducibility were calculated to be less than 10% (residual standard deviation) for all eight species. The method was validated by analyzing a certified reference material (DORM‐2, dogfish muscle) and then successfully applied to several marine samples, e.g. oyster, fish muscle, shrimp and marine algae. The low power microwave digestion was employed for the extraction of arsenic from seafood products. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The ICP-MS approach to environmental studies

The certification of marine materials for trace metals is a process which challenges every technique involved, especially if a technique is as recent as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Developmental work was required for several materials (natural waters, biological materials, marine sediments). It is reviewed here, in an attempt to show how one can take full advantage of ICP-MS. This includes a review of the digestion procedures developed for the multielement analysis of biological materials and marine sediments in order to minimize spectroscopic interferences. The multielement analysis of natural waters is also reviewed, in particular that of saline waters which requires a separation of the analytes from the alkali and alkaline earths elements and a preconcentration of the analytes on a column of silicaimmobilized 8-hydroxyquinoline. The potential of performing this separation/preconcentration procedure on-line is showed using both published and original results. Finally, the application of ICP-MS to speciation is illustrated by the determination of methylmercury in biological materials after extraction, and by the determination of arsenic species by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS.Presented in part at the 1989 European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, Reutte, AustriaThe work described was carried out while the author was a Research Associate at the Analytical Chemistry Section, Chemistry Division, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, K1A OR9, Canada     

Validation of the thermodynamic model of inorganic arsenic in non polluted river waters of the Basque country (Spain)

The thermodynamic model of inorganic arsenic was validated by comparing the predicted As(III) concentration with the experimentally determined one in several river waters samples of the Basque Country (Spain) collected in two sampling campaigns: spring and autumn 2000. This model takes into account the acid-base equilibria of As(III) and As(V) together with the redox equilibria between the H₃AsO₃ and H₃AsO₄ species. A correct prediction of As(III) concentration requires the knowledge of the total concentration of arsenic, pH, redox potential (referred to hydrogen electrode), and ionic strength values of the solution. The estimation of the activity coefficients of the arsenic species was performed by means of the Modified Bromley’s Methodology (MBM).In order to perform the experimental As(III) determination, an analytical method was implemented by using an ion exchange separation of As(III)/As(V) on a continuous FIA-IE-HG-AAS system. The total arsenic concentration was determined together with total concentration of the main alkaline or alkaline-earth metals and anions in the natural waters. Temperature compensated measurements of the pH and redox potentials were made in-situ at the sampling sites.For both seasonal campaigns, the agreement between predicted and experimental As(III) is really high for those samples belonging to non polluted river waters.     

Vapor pressure,speciation, and chemical activities in highly concentrated sodium borate solutions at 277 and 317°C

The system H₂O-B₂O₃-Na₂O has been studied experimentally at 277 and 317°C. The activities of water and boric acid have been determined at mole ratios Na/B from 0 to 1.5, and total dissolved solids 3 to 80 weight percent. The activity of boric acid has been fitted to within experimental error using a speciation model with eight complex species. This model is consistent with the model previously published by Mesmer et al. The electrolyte properties of the liquid are modeled using the Pitzer-Simonson model of very concentrated electrolyte solutions. The calculated values of water activity agree with experiment, and the activity of NaOH and pOH have also been calculated. The potassium borate system also was briefly studied at 317°C, and is adequately described by a model with five complex species. The potassium borate liquid is more alkaline at K/B= 1 than a sodium borate liquid at the same mole ratio, but pOH in the two systems is the same at lower mole ratios.     

Evaluation of a purge-and-trap injection system for capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of volatile selenium compounds in water

A method is presented for the selective determination of the volatile selenium species dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, using a commercially available purge-and-trap injection system coupled to capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The efficiency of the purging step was evaluated and the parameters affecting the purge and trap processes were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of volatile selenium compounds in lake water. Relative detection limits of 2ng/l for dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, corresponding to an absolute detection limit of 10 pg, were achieved.     

Development of a mild mercaptoethanol extraction method for determination of mercury species in biological samples by HPLC–ICP-MS

A mild, efficient and convenient extraction method of using 2-mercaptoethanol contained extractant solution combined with an incubator shaker for determination of mercury species in biological samples by HPLC–ICP-MS has been developed. The effects of the concentration of 2-mercaptoethanol, the composition of the extractant solution and the shaking time on the efficiency of mercury extraction were evaluated. The optimization experiments indicated that the quantitative extraction of mercury species from biological samples could be achieved by using 0.1% (v/v) HCl, 0.1% (v/v) 2-mercapoethanol and 0.15% (m/v) KCl extractant solution in an incubator shaker for shaking overnight (about 12 h) at room temperature. The established method was validated by analysis of various biological certified reference materials, including NRCC DOLT-3 (dogfish liver), IAEA 436 (tuna fish), IAEA MA-B-3/TM (garfish filet), IAEA MA-M-2/TM (mussel tissue), GBW 08193 (bovine liver) and GBW 08572 (prawn). The analytical results of the reference materials were in good agreement with the certified or reference values of both methyl and total mercury, indicating that no distinguishable transformation between mercury species had occurred during the extraction and determination procedures. The limit of detection (LOD) for methyl (CH₃Hg⁺) and inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) by the method are both as 0.2 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.s) for CH₃Hg⁺ and Hg²⁺ are 3.0% and 5.8%, respectively. The advantages of the developed extraction method are that (1) it is easy to operate in HPLC–ICP-MS for mercury species determination since the extracted solution can be directly injected into the HPLC column without pH adjustment and (2) the memory effect of mercury in the ICP-MS measurement system can be reduced.     

Separation and sensitive determination of arsenic species (As/As) using the yeast-immobilized column and hydride generation in ICP–AES

Inorganic arsenic was separated using the yeast-immobilized column. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was covalently bonded unto the controlled pore glass, which showed selective preconcentration of As⁵⁺ over As³⁺. The effluent was directly connected to hydride generation (HG) to increase sensitivity. The optimum pH condition for the retainment of arsenic at the column was 7. As⁵⁺ and As³⁺ were completely separated in a few minutes with the flow rate of 1.5 ml min⁻¹. Three molars of nitric acid was adequate both for the elution of As⁵⁺ and hydride generation. The accuracy of the technique was tested with NIST SRMs. Quantitative analysis of arsenic species for herbicide, pesticide, and cigarette were performed, and the results showed good agreements with the suggested values. Yeast-immobilized column-HG-ICP showed a promising future for the arsenic speciation study.     

Method Development for the Speciation of Chromium in River and Industrial Wastewater Using GFAAS

A simple, sensitive and inexpensive method for the speciation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in river and industrial wastewater was developed, optimized and validated. Samples were collected, filtered and then chromium species were determined in the filtrate. In the filtrate, total Cr was determined directly by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). A portion of the filtered sample was buffered to pH 6.4, extracted with Amberlite LA-2/MIBK and finally Cr(VI) was determined in the organic extract and Cr(III) in the aqueous phase using GFAAS. The method was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material, CRM 544, and good accuracy was obtained. The limit of detection for Cr(VI) and Cr(tot)/Cr(III) was found to be 0.30 and 0.08 µg L⁻¹, respectively, and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation of better than 11% was achieved for nine replicates. A number of water samples from the Tinishu Akaki River, Ethiopia, and wastewater samples from a chemical plant in Germany, were analysed. In addition to the GFAAS method, Cr(tot) was also determined using ICP-MS (in CRM 544, lyophilized water, and Tinishu Akaki River water samples) and Cr(tot) and Cr(VI) using UV-VIS spectrophotometry (in CRM 544 and industrial wastewater samples). Good agreement between the different methods was found.