Determination of thallium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a metal atomizer

Summary Electrothermal atomization of thallium in a molybdenum microtube atomizer is described. The addition of a low flow rate of hydrogen to argon purge gas resulted in higher peak absorption. In the presence of thiourea the addition of hydrogen did not alter the peak absorption value in pure argon, although the peak temperature shifted to lower region. A high heating rate of the atomizer was recommended for higher peak absorption and improvement of interferences from concomitants. The interferences by concomitants at 50 ng level were modified with thiourea. Modification with thiourea was effective even for interferences from 500 ng of cadmium, zinc or copper, while it was insufficient for 500 ng of calcium, magnesium, chromium, bismuth or lead. Provided the atomization of thallium was carried out at high heating rate and on addition of thiourea as a matrix modifier, the interference from chloride (500 ng) was modified. The absolute sensitivity (0.0044 abs) for thallium was 1.2 pg.

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Thalliumbestitmmung durch AAS mit elektrothermischer Atomisierung in einem metallischen Atomizer

Zusammenfassung Zur AAS-Bestimmung von Thallium wird eine Molybdän-Mikroröhre als Atomizer empfohlen. Zusatz von geringeren Wasserstoffmengen zum Argongas ergab eine höhere Absorption. In Gegenwart von Thioharnstoff erfolgte durch Wasserstoff-Zugabe keine Änderung des Absorptionswertes in reinem Argon, obwohl die Peaktemperatur in einen niederen Bereich verschoben wurde. Für höhere Absorption und zur Verminderung von Störungen durch Begleitelemente wurden höhere Erhitzungsgeschwindigkeiten empfohlen. Störungen durch Begleitelemente im Bereich von 50 ng konnten mit Thioharnstoff verringert werden. Die Zugabe von Thioharnstoff erwies sich ebenfalls als wirksam für 500 ng Cadmium, Zink oder Kupfer, während sie für dieselben Mengen an Calcium, Magnesium, Chrom, Bismut oder Blei ungenügend war. Mit hoher Erhitzungsgeschwindigkeit und Thioharnstoffzusatz konnte eine Störung durch Chlorid im Bereich von 500 ng reduziert werden. Die absolute Empfindlichkeit für Thallium (0,0044 abs) betrug 1,2 pg.

     

Slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for trace element analysis of high-purity tungsten trioxide

A slurry sampling ETAAS method for the determination of trace concentrations of Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na and Ni in tungsten trioxide is presented. A high background absorption appearing with large sample amounts during atomization at high temperatures was the only matrix interference observed. It could be significantly reduced by volatilization of the matrix in the pyrolysis step. Calibration curves recorded with aqueous standards could be used for calibration in all cases excluding the determination of very low analyte concentrations of Co and Fe which required the use of the standard additions method. The results obtained by this method showed an excellent agreement with those determined in digests by ETAAS. The detection limits achievable by the slurry technique were between 1 (Ca, K, Mg, Na) and 210 (Cu) ng/g. They were mostly by more than one order of magnitude better than those of the solution techniques. Received: 9 July 1997 / Revised: 6 October 1997 / Accepted: 10 October 1997     

Slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for trace element analysis of high-purity tungsten trioxide

A slurry sampling ETAAS method for the determination of trace concentrations of Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na and Ni in tungsten trioxide is presented. A high background absorption appearing with large sample amounts during atomization at high temperatures was the only matrix interference observed. It could be significantly reduced by volatilization of the matrix in the pyrolysis step. Calibration curves recorded with aqueous standards could be used for calibration in all cases excluding the determination of very low analyte concentrations of Co and Fe which required the use of the standard additions method. The results obtained by this method showed an excellent agreement with those determined in digests by ETAAS. The detection limits achievable by the slurry technique were between 1 (Ca, K, Mg, Na) and 210 (Cu) ng/g. They were mostly by more than one order of magnitude better than those of the solution techniques.     

Direct determination of selenoproteins in polyvinylidene difluoride membranes by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of selenoproteins in plastic membranes after protein separation by gel electrophoresis was developed. Quantification was based on the determination of the selenium content of the proteins by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) after manual introduction of membrane pieces into the graphite furnace. The proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and subsequently transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane by semi-dry electroblotting. After staining the membrane, the protein bands were excised and chemical modifier was added on top of the excised membrane prior to atomic absorption measurement. Acceptable linearity was achieved in the range 2– 10 ng Se, corresponding to selenium concentrations close to 1 mg/L, when aqueous solutions of selenomethionine standard as well as selenoprotein standard were applied to the membrane. A characteristic mass of 54 ± 4 pg/0.0044 s was obtained for the selenoprotein standard. Protein transfer from polyacrylamide gel to the membrane was quantitative and no interferences were introduced. The method was used for identification of selenoprotein P after enrichment of the protein from human plasma. Received: 28 June 1999 / Revised: 14 September 1999 / Accepted: 16 September 1999     

Direct determination of selenoproteins in polyvinylidene difluoride membranes by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of selenoproteins in plastic membranes after protein separation by gel electrophoresis was developed. Quantification was based on the determination of the selenium content of the proteins by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) after manual introduction of membrane pieces into the graphite furnace. The proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and subsequently transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane by semi-dry electroblotting. After staining the membrane, the protein bands were excised and chemical modifier was added on top of the excised membrane prior to atomic absorption measurement. Acceptable linearity was achieved in the range 2-10 ng Se, corresponding to selenium concentrations close to 1 mg/L, when aqueous solutions of selenomethionine standard as well as selenoprotein standard were applied to the membrane. A characteristic mass of 54 +/- 4 pg/0.0044 s was obtained for the selenoprotein standard. Protein transfer from polyacrylamide gel to the membrane was quantitative and no interferences were introduced. The method was used for identification of selenoprotein P after enrichment of the protein from human plasma.     

Determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide by slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry method for the determination of Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, Tl and Zn in powdered titanium dioxide is described. The behaviour of the titanium matrix in the atomizer and its interferences with the determination of Al, Fe, Co, Ni and Mn were studied. A tungsten carbide modified graphite tube was used to improve the signal shape and the repeatability for the determination of Fe. For all elements, except for Cd and Pb, quantification by a calibration curve established with aqueous standards was possible. No chemical modifier was used throughout in order to minimize contamination. For the contamination risk elements such as Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na and Zn, the slurry sampling technique allows to achieve limits of detection (3σ of the blank) 5–20 times lower than the solution technique, resulting for these elements in values of 1, 3, 0.5, 0.5, 0.9 and 2 ng g⁻¹, respectively, and, generally being in the range of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ (Cd) to 10 ng g⁻¹ (Al and Tl). The results obtained by the slurry sampling technique are compared with those of other independent methods including four solution methods and neutron activation analysis.     

Analytical evaluation of totally pyrolytic graphite cuvettes for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The performance characteristics of electrothermal atomiser cuvettes made of totally pyrolytic graphite (TPG) are compared to those of coated and uncoated electrographite. An analytical programme was devised to determine the useful operational lifetime of each cuvette and assess the effect of cuvette age on the sensitivity and precision of the determinations of lead, manganese and vanadium by atomic absorption spectrometry. The main advantages of TPG are enhanced cuvette durability and improved sensitivity and precision, especially for involatile elements. The characteristics of uncoated electrographite were generally unsatisfactory compared to the pyro-coated and TPG cuvettes studied.     

电沉积-钨丝电热原子吸收光谱法测定地质样品中痕量金

以市售幻灯投仪卤钨灯泡钨丝为原子化器的钨丝电热原子吸收光谱分析仪(TC-AAS),功率小、仪器成本低[1,2],如用微型CCD光谱仪作检测系统,可以实现原子吸收光谱仪的小型化,甚至可用于野外现场分析[3,4].     

Prospects and problems in absolute analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The most significant achievements in the development of methods of absolute analysis in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) made in the recent five years are discussed. Problems requiring further investigation and the significance of the concept of absolute analysis in the evolution of ET AAS are pointed out.     

Prospects and problems in absolute analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The most significant achievements in the development of methods of absolute analysis in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) made in the recent five years are discussed. Problems requiring further investigation and the significance of the concept of absolute analysis in the evolution of ET AAS are pointed out.     

Derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry and its application in trace analysis

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is an accepted and widely used method for the determination of trace elements in a great variety of samples. But its sensitivity doesn’t meet the demands of trace and ultra-trace analysis for some samples. The derivative signal processing technique, with a very high capability for enhancing sensitivity, was developed for FAAS. The signal models of conventional FAAS are described. The equations of derivative signals are established for FAAS, flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-FAAS) and atom trapping flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AT-FAAS). The principle and performance of the derivative atomic absorption spectrometry are evaluated. The derivative technique based on determination of variation rate of signal intensity with time (dI/dt) is different from the derivative spectrophotometry (DS) based on determination of variation rate of signal intensity with wavelength (dI/dλ). Derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry (DFAAS) has higher sensitivity, lower detection limits and better accuracy. It has been applied to the direct determination of trace elements without preconcentration. If the derivative technique was combined with several preconcentration techniques, the sensitivity would be enhanced further for ultra-trace analysis with good linearity. The applications of DFAAS are reviewed for trace element analysis in biological, pharmaceutical, environmental and food samples.     

Storage and processing of estuarine water samples for trace metal analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry

Saline water samples from the Delaware Bay estuary were sampled, processed, and stored in a variety of ways to allow different methods of maintaining their integrity to be compared. Samples were processed onboard ship, immediately after collection, by extraction with ammonium pyrollidinedithiocarbamate in methyl isobutyl ketone. Duplicate samples were processed onshore after a variety of storage procedures. All samples were analyzed for copper and iron by atomic absorption spectrometry. Only samples filtered (<1 μm), acidified, and stored frozen gave extractable copper and iron results comparable with those for samples extracted immediately after collection. Cold storage with sample acidification in polyethylene containers appeared less satisfactory. Organic extracts from samples processed onboard are best retained in all-Teflon containers pending complete digestion and analysis onshore. Unless clean (ultra-filtered air) conditions can be ensured onboard, the estuarine water samples are best returned in a filtered, acidified, and frozen condition for onshore processing.     

Determination of trace impurities in titanium dioxide by direct solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A true direct solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry method with Zeeman-effect background correction (Analytik Jena ZEEnit 60 AAS) was developed for the determination of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn in powdered titanium dioxide of pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics grade. The interaction of the titanium matrix and graphite surface of the sample carrier boat in a transversely heated graphite tube atomizer was investigated. Conversion of titanium dioxide to interfering TiO₂–TiC-liquid phase, running out the sampling boat, was observed at temperatures above 2000 °C. The temperature program was optimized accordingly for these volatile analytes in atomization and cleaning steps in order to prevent this interference and to prolong significantly the analytical lifetime of the boat to more than one thousand runs. For all elements, calibration by aqueous standard addition method, by wet-chemically analyzed samples with different content of analytes and/or by dosing one sample in different amounts, were proved as adequate quantification procedures. Linear dynamic calibration working ranges can be considerably expanded up to two orders of magnitude within one measurement run by applying three-field dynamic mode of the Zeeman background correction system. The results obtained by true direct solid sampling technique are compared with those of other independent, mostly wet-chemical methods. Very low limits of detection (3σ criterion) of true solid sampling technique of 21, 0.27, 24, 3.9, 6.3 and 0.9 ng g^− 1 were achieved for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn, respectively.     

Tube-probe atomisation in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is described in which liquid samples are deposited by a conventional autosampler on to a tubular graphite probe positioned inside a 7.5 mm i.d. Pye Unicam SP-9 atomiser cuvette. The tube-probe has certain advantages in comparison with the flat probe systems described previously. In particular, the precision of determinations in acid media is improved since the sample solution is better confined within the atomiser and hence the effects of droplet spreading are curtailed. Also, the tube-probe is shown to reduce diffusional loss effects at high atomiser temperatures, in comparison with flat probe operation. The characteristic mass values obtained for volatile and medium volatile elements are similar for tube and flat probes. Since a greater sample volume (up to 40 μl) can be deposited and dried in the tube-probe, improved detection limits are anticipated for these elements. For more involatile elements, the greater mass of the tube-probe results in poorer sensitivity by a factor of × 3 for V and × 4 for Cr.     

Flow injection on-line electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Today the greatest hindrances to couple the continuous FI system to discrete ETAAS operations have been overcome as demonstrated by the great number of papers published in the last few years. This paper reviews 109 references to the development and expansion of the FI-ETAAS methodology. The selected FI-ETAAS systems, namely: on-line column preconcentration and separation systems; on-line knotted reactor preconcentration systems; on-line aerosol deposition systems; flow-injection for in situ trapping of volatile compounds and miscellaneous on-line systems.     

Direct analysis of solids for trace elements by combined electrothermal furnace/quartz T-tube/flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The analysis of solid samples by a combined graphite-furnace/air-acetylene flame technique based on generally available atomic absorption instrumentation is described. Samples are injected into the furnace and atomized via a slotted T-tube in the flame. Non-specific absorption is greatly reduced compared to that obtained in graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (a.a.s.). Sensitivity is reduced by 10–200 times compared to the direct graphite-furnace method, so that large sample sizes (up to 0.2 g) can be used; this minimizes problems caused by sample inhomogeneity. The elements considered are cadmium, lead, copper, arsenic, cobalt, mercury, antimony and selenium. Volatile elements such as mercury and arsenic can be determined without the need for a char step. Simple calibration procedures are possible in some cases and the precision is usually better than 10%. Background reduction capabilities are compared with those of conventional graphite-furnace a.a.s., the isothermal-furnace and the hollow graphite T-tube techniques. Analytical capabilities and results are presented for the direct determination of trace elements in numerous biological and some geological samples.     

An improved metal extraction procedure for the determination of trace metals in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

A rapid carbamate extraction method with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and diethyldithiocarbamate is described for the simultaneous determination of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite atomizer. The metal—carbamate complexes are extracted from 500 ml of sea water into Freon TF and back-extracted into 10 ml of 0.3 M nitric acid. The method has considerable advantages over previously recommended extraction procedures. The metals are transferred to a solution in which their concentrations do not change with time, and which can be easily stored for transportation. The sensitivity is high enough for analysis of open ocean waters.     

Determination of selenium in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary The electrothermal atomization of selenium has been investigated for the accurate determination of selenium in water samples. Hydrogen seriously affects the atomization temperature of selenium in a molybdenum micro-tube atomizer. The atomization of selenium also suffers from serious interferences caused by salts and other elements. The extraction of selenium diethyldithiocarbamate complex serves to eliminate the interferences from the matrix. The addition of copper allows the suppression of interferences from elements extracted with selenium. The method permits the determination of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) separately.This research was in part funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, under Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, for which we express our appreciation.     

Determination of trace metals at concentrations above the linear calibration range by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Difficulties encountered in the determinations of various metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, Mn) in the graphite furnace are investigated. The most serious is the inconsistency often observed below the upper linear calibration limit. Because of that, and also to avoid the extra work and contamination resulting from dilution, formulae are given that afford a precise way of estimating the concentration within a range 5 to 25 times wider than the linear calibration range. The same computing technique may be employed with equal success when a flame is used, again avoiding dilution.     

Analysis of cobalt in plasma by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary A method for the determination of traces of cobalt in plasma is described. The sample is digested in a test tube using a mixture of nitric and perchloric acid. Ammonium-pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate is added as chelating agent, and after pH-adjustment to pH 9±0.1, cobalt is extracted into methyl-isobutyl ketone.Recovery studies using Co-60 showed that losses of cobalt during the procedure, including digestion and extraction are less than 3%. Possible contamination from the steel needle used is tested and discussed. The coefficient of variation for the method is 9.5% at the 0.20 g/l level. A realistic determination limit following this procedure is estimated to be 0.06 g/l. Using this method, the cobalt concentration in plasma from 32 control persons was determined to 0.15 ±0.07 g/l. For 10 refinery workers daily exposed to aerosols of CoCl₂ the determined average was 9.7±7.1 g/l.

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Analyse von Kobalt in Plasma mit Hilfe der elektrothermischen AAS

Zusammenfassung Bei dem beschriebenen Verfahren wird die Probe mit Hilfe von Salpetersäure/Perchlorsäure aufgeschlossen. Als Komplexierungs-Reagens wird Ammonium-pyrrolidindithiocarbamat zugefügt und nach pH-Einstellung auf 9±0,1 wird Co mit Methylisobutylketon extrahiert.Mit Hilfe von Co-60 wurde festgestellt, daß die durch Aufschluß und Extraktion verursachten Verluste weniger als 3% betragen. Eine mögliche Verunreinigung durch die benutzten Stahlnadeln wurde untersucht und diskutiert. Der Variationskoeffizient beträgt 9,5% bei 0,2 g Co/l. Die Bestimmungsgrenze nach diesem Verfahren liegt bei 0,06 g Co/l. Die Kobaltkonzentration im Plasma von 32 Kontrollpersonen wurde zu 0,15±0,07 g Co/l bestimmt. Für 10 Raffineriearbeiter, die täglich CoCl₂-Aerosolen ausgesetzt waren, wurde ein Durchschnitt von 9,7±7,1 g Co/l gefunden.