Determination and interference studies of bismuth by tungsten trap hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of bismuth requires sufficiently sensitive procedures for detection at the μg L⁻¹ level or lower. W-coil was used for on-line trapping of volatile bismuth species using HGAAS (hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry); atom trapping using a W-coil consists of three steps. Initially BiH₃ gas is formed by hydride generation procedure. The analyte species in vapor form are transported through the W-coil trap held at 289 °C where trapping takes place. Following the preconcentration step, the W-coil is heated to 1348 °C; analyte species are released and transported to flame-heated quartz atom cell where the atomic signal is formed. In our study, interferences have been investigated in detail during Bi determination by hydride generation, both with and without trap in the same HGAAS system. Interferent/analyte (mass/mass) ratio was kept at 1, 10 and 100. Experiments were designed for carrier solutions having 1.0 M HNO₃. Interferents such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Au, Na, Mg, Ca, chloride, sulfate and phosphate were examined. The calibration plot for an 8.0 mL sampling volume was linear between 0.10 μg L⁻¹ and 10.0 μg L⁻¹ of Bi. The detection limit (3 s/m) was 25 ng L⁻¹. The enhancement factor for the characteristic concentration (C_o) was found to be 21 when compared with the regular system without trap, by using peak height values. The validation of the procedure was performed by the analysis of the certified water reference material and the result was found to be in good agreement with the certified values at the 95% confidence level.     

Electrochemical hydride generation for the determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The determinations of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se were performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry following their electrochemical hydride generation. An electrochemical hydride generator based on a screw-thread seal arrangement, working in a continuous flow mode was used. The effects of cathode material, shape and area of material, catholyte, sample flow rate, applied current, catholyte solution concentration and interference of transition metals on signal intensity were studied. Five kinds of materials including lead, graphite, copper, tungsten and platinum with different shapes were tested as cathode materials. The signal obtained from a 3-dimensional electrode was higher than that from a 2-dimensional electrode under the same conditions. The signal intensity of Ge in HNO₃ medium within a narrow concentration range of 0.05–0.10 mol L^{− 1} was stronger than that in other acidic medium, such as HCl and H₂SO₄. However, the signal intensity of Ge was rapidly decreased with HNO₃, HCl and H₂SO₄ concentration increasing, and then reached approximately zero. In general, limits of detection and a precision were improved using a graphite cathode in H₃PO₄ medium. The analysis of the reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values for As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se. The method was successfully applied in the determination of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se in traditional Chinese medicine samples.     

Electrochemical hydride generation for the determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The determinations of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se were performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry following their electrochemical hydride generation. An electrochemical hydride generator based on a screw-thread seal arrangement, working in a continuous flow mode was used. The effects of cathode material, shape and area of material, catholyte, sample flow rate, applied current, catholyte solution concentration and interference of transition metals on signal intensity were studied. Five kinds of materials including lead, graphite, copper, tungsten and platinum with different shapes were tested as cathode materials. The signal obtained from a 3-dimensional electrode was higher than that from a 2-dimensional electrode under the same conditions. The signal intensity of Ge in HNO₃ medium within a narrow concentration range of 0.05–0.10 mol L^− 1 was stronger than that in other acidic medium, such as HCl and H₂SO₄. However, the signal intensity of Ge was rapidly decreased with HNO₃, HCl and H₂SO₄ concentration increasing, and then reached approximately zero. In general, limits of detection and a precision were improved using a graphite cathode in H₃PO₄ medium. The analysis of the reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values for As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se. The method was successfully applied in the determination of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se in traditional Chinese medicine samples.     

Study of the Effectiveness of Arsenic Hydride Generation from Various Arsenic Species with the Use of Some Borane Reducing Agents by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

The application of H₃B–NH(CH₃)_2,H₃B–NH₂C(CH₃)₃ and NaBH₄ as derivatizing reagents in hydride generation from As(III), As(V), and As(V)-dimethyl forms was investigated. The effects of hydrochloric, acetic, and citric acids on the As responses were studied by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Intensities of As, B, and H lines, and the pH of the reaction mixture were recorded. The effectiveness of the hydride generation depended on the arsenic form and changed with reductant type as well as with kind and concentration of the acids. The H line intensities were different from those expected from stechiometric reactions between the reductants and acids.     

Comparison between hydride generation and nebulization for sample introduction in the determination of lead in plants and water samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,using external calibration and isotope dilution

Four inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric methods: nebulization sample introduction with external calibration; hydride generation with external calibration; isotope dilution with nebulization; and isotope dilution with hydride generation, have been tested and compared. Multimode Sample Introduction System (MSIS™) was employed in either nebulization or hydride generation mode. Best limits of detection (below 0.1 μg L^− 1) and accuracy were obtained for isotope dilution techniques in hydride generation and sample nebulization mode. A mixture of HNO₃ and H₂O₂ served both for microwave-assisted digestion as well as a medium for subsequent plumbane generation. Optimal reagent concentrations for hydride generation stage were 0.1 mol L^− 1 HNO₃, 0.28 mol L^− 1 H₂O₂ and 1.5% m/v NaBH₄. Critical effects of acidity, blanks and concomitants have been discussed. Analytical methods were validated by use of plant and water certified reference materials and spiked high-salt solutions (seawater and 20% m/v NaCl) at lead levels in nanograms per gram to micrograms per gram range.     

Effect of additives on the chemical vapour generation of bismuthane by tetrahydroborate(III) derivatization

The effect of mM concentrations of K₃[Fe(CN)₆], Fe(III), Mo(VI), KSCN and KMnO₄ on the generation of BiH₃ by the reaction of 0.2–10 μg ml⁻¹ Bi(III) with 0.2 M tetrahydroborate(III) at 1 M acidity (HCl or HNO₃) was investigated. Chemical vapour generation (CVG) of BiH₃ was investigated by atomic absorption spectrometry using a continuous flow reaction system (CF–CVG–AAS) and different mixing sequences and reagent reaction times. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was employed in batch generation experiments with NaBD₄. In the absence of additives, the formation of Bi⁰ at high concentrations of Bi(III) caused rollover of calibration curves and limited the linear range to less than 1 μg ml⁻¹ Bi(III). In the presence of additives, the formation of Bi⁰ was not observed and the linear range was increased to 5 μg ml⁻¹ of Bi(III) while rollover was completely removed. GC–MS experiments indicated that the presence of additives did not affect the direct transfer of H from boron to bismuth. Experiments with CF–CVG–AAS and different mixing sequences and reagent reaction times suggest that additives act by preventing the formation of Bi⁰ through the formation of reaction intermediates which evolve towards the formation of BiH₃ at elevated Bi(III)/NaBH₄ ratios.      

Preconcentration Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Determination of Trace Lead(II) by Hydride Generation Combined with an Adsorbent Water Suspension Sampling Technique

The optimization of preconcentration atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of trace lead(II) has been studied by using hydride generation and adsorbent water suspension sampling techniques. The uptake of lead(II) by a specially adapted chelate-forming resin, that is, a sulfonated dithizone (DzS)-loaded resin, was complete in the pH range 6.3-10. Lead adsorbed on DzS-loaded resin was successfully converted into its hydride in a medium, HCI --- H₂O₂ --- NaBH₄ without the need for a desorption procedure. Chelating agents except for DzS and DzS-loaded resin interfered seriously with the generation of lead hydride. Severe interference from diverse hydride-forming elements and transition metal ions is eliminated to a great extent by the treatment with DzS-loaded resin. The calibration curve obtained from the lead-bearing resin-water suspension was linear in the range of 5-500 ng/ml, whereas that from aqueous standard solution was in the range of 5-200 ng/ml. The detection limit of the method depends on the concentration factor and is 0.025 ng/ml in the present study. The proposed method was applied to the determination of trace lead(II) in environmental water samples.     

Investigation of Simultaneous Generation of Arsenic,Bismuth and Antimony Hydrides Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

Hydride generation from solution containing As(III), Bi(III), and Sb(III) by means of different borane reductants and acids using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry as a detection system was investigated. The As, Bi, Sb, B, C, H, and N lines as well as the OH and CN molecules were recorded. Their intensities in relation to hydride formation conditions were measured. Effects of the HCl, CH₃COOH, and C₆H₈O₇ acids as well as the NaBH₄, H₃B-NH(CH₃)₂, and H₃B-NH₂C(CH₃)₃ reductants on efficiency of the As, Sb, and Bi hydride generation were investigated and discussed. Influence of hydride generation conditions on plasma was studied.     

Hückel's Rule of Aromaticity Categorizes Aromatic closo Boron Hydride Clusters

A direct connection is established between three‐dimensional aromatic closo boron hydride clusters and planar aromatic [n]annulenes for medium and large boron clusters. In particular, the results prove the existence of a link between the two‐dimensional Hückel rule, as followed by aromatic [n]annulenes, and Wade–Mingos’ rule of three‐dimensional aromaticity, as applied to the aromatic [B_nH_n]^2? closo boron hydride clusters. The closo boron hydride clusters can be categorized into different series, according to the n value of the Hückel (4 n+2) π rule. The distinct categories studied in this work correspond to n=1, 2, and 3. Each category increases in geometrical difficulty but, more importantly, it is possible to associate each category with the number of pentagonal layers in the structure perpendicular to the main axis. Category 1 has one pentagonal layer, category 2 has two, and category 3 has three.     

Potentiometric enzyme electrode for urea based on electrochemically prepared polypyrrole membranes

The present study explores the attractiveness of combining flow-injection (FI) with lead hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) to improve the selectivity and sensitivity of analysis. Lead hydride was generated in three acid-oxidant media: HNO₃-(NH₄)₂S₂O₈, lactic acid-K₂Cr₂O₇ and HNO₃-H₂O₂. The effect of chemical parameters (acid-oxidant concentration and NaBH₄ concentration) was investigated and the performance of each generation medium in terms of interferences, sensitivity and detection limits was compared with that obtained in batch mode. In all cases improved sensitivity (HNO₃-H₂O₂, 0.8 ng Pb; lactic acid-K₂Cr₂O₇, 0.2 ng Pb; (NH₄)₂S₂O₈-HNO₃, 4ng Pb) was obtained, most notably in HNO₃-H₂O₂, which provided 12 times higher sensitivity than in batch mode and sharper absorption peaks. Furthermore, interference by Cu and Ni was lower in the proposed FI-HG system. Compared with the batch mode, about 10 to 100 times higher concentrations of interferent are tolerated in the sample. The use of FI also allows work at a lower NaBH₄ concentration. The method was applied to the determination of lead in water samples with a sampling frequency of 180 samples per hour. In terms of both sensitivity and freedom from interferences, lactic acid-K₂Cr₂O₇ was the best of the generation media tested.On leave from the School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India     

Determination of arsenic by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry – comparison of sample introduction techniques

A comparison is made of four sample introduction techniques for the determination of As by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The techniques studied were 1) flow injection with pneumatic nebulization (FIA-PN), 2) direct electrothermal vaporization (ETV), 3) continuous hydride generation (HG) and 4) hydride generation with in situ trapping followed by electrothermal vaporization (HG-ETV). It was found that FIA-PN and ETV gave similar detection limits in concentration units (about 20 pg mL^–1), although ETV had a much lower absolute detection limit (0.2 pg). Sample introduction by hydride generation gave an inferior detection limit (100–200 pg mL^–1), also in combination with in situ trapping and ETV, owing to the blank signal from traces of As in NaBH₄ which is difficult to eliminate. The results indicate that the more elaborate sample introduction techniques based on ETV and HG may not offer significant advantages compared to normal solution nebulization for the determination of As in simple sample matrices such as natural fresh waters, where matrix removal is not required.     

Evaluation of the hydride generation technique for the determination of lead in commercial iron oxide pigments

Two different procedures based on lead hydride generation for determination of lead in commercial iron oxide pigments have been evaluated. As the procedure based on the prior acid-dissolution of the samples to give a 1M HCl final medium led to a high relative standard deviation (6.5%) an alternative procedure based on the use of slurries was studied. The samples were suspended in water containing 0.01% hexametaphosphate, and lead hydride was generated from a 0.7M nitric acid and 14% ammonium peroxodisulphate medium by addition of 10% tetrahydroborate solution. In this way, an improvement in reproducibility and sensitivity as well as a saving of time and effort was achieved. The procedure based on the use of a suspension of the samples is therefore recommended.     

Evaluation of hydrogen line emission and argon plasma electron concentrations resulting from the gaseous sample injection involved in hydride generation-ICP-atomic emission spectrometric analysis

The simultaneous injection of volatile hydride species and hydrogen gas, originating in reagent decomposition, was monitored during the operation of a continuous hydride generation manifold employed for the determination of trace arsenic by HG-ICP-AES. Line and background intensities as well as the FWHM of the hydrogen Hγ and Hδ lines were measured, and electron number densities (n_e) estimated from Stark broadening of the line profiles. Results were compared with those obtained by conventional pneumatic injection of aqueous solutions. Overlapping with atomic nitrogen lines at 410 nm and 411 nm tends to distort the Hδ line profile for the hydrogen-seeded plasma, rendering unreliable results. The N I lines seem to be quenched by the presence of water aerosol. More consistent results were obtained with the Hγ line. When no solutions are pumped through the hydride generation manifold (“dry” plasma), the measured n_e value was (1.57 ± 0.22) × 10¹⁵ cm^–3. Conversely, when the reducing reagent flow was replaced by pure water (corresponding to the injection of water vapor in equilibrium that is swept by the argon carrier gas passing through the phase separator), the electron concentration is 25% higher. In that case the n_e value agrees between the experimental error with that obtained for a plasma in which a water aerosol is introduced at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. An enhancement of 52% relative is observed in n_e when the system is operated under optimized conditions for arsine generation, employing sodium tetrahydroborate in acidic medium as reducing agent (i.e. hydrogen seeded plasma). It was also observed that the continuum emission near 410 nm for the hydrogen containing plasma correlates with the measured electron number density, suggesting that the background enhancement under hydride generation conditions may respond to the ion-electron recombination mechanism.     

Multivariate optimisation of hydride generation procedures for single element determinations of As, Cd, Sb and Se in natural waters by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Continuous flow hydride generation procedures for As(III), total inorganic As, Cd, total inorganic Sb, Se(IV) and total inorganic Se from sea and hot-spring water samples were optimised by experimental designs. Ir-coated graphite tubes were used as preconcentration and atomisation medium of the hydrides generated. Several factors affecting the hydride generation efficiency were studied. Results obtained from Plackett-Burman designs suggest that sodium borohydride flow rate and reduction coil length, are significant factors for total inorganic arsenic hydride generation. For cadmium hydride generation the significant factors are hydrochloric acid concentration, hydrochloric acid and sodium borohydride flow rates and reduction coil length. For total inorganic antimony hydride generation the factors affecting the hydride generation procedure are hydrochloric acid and potassium iodide concentrations and reduction coil length; finally, pre-reduction coil length and oven temperature for the pre-reduction step are statistically significant factors for total inorganic selenium hydride generation. In addition, the factors studied for the arsenic and selenium hydride generation from As(III) and Se(IV) are not significant. From these studies, the significant variables were optimised by central composite designs. Validation carried out analysis on three reference materials: SLRS-4 (Riverie water), CASS-3 (seawater) and NIST-1643d.     

Determination of mercury by furnace atomic nonthermal excitation spectrometry

The determination of Hg using different variants of the Furnace Atomic Nonthermal Excitation Spectrometry (FANES) is described. In the direct analysis of micro volumes of solutions, the results could be improved by working with chemical modifiers for the stabilization of Hg during the thermal pretreatment. The best results were obtained using Ir and Pd as modifiers, with absolute detection limits of 4 and 12 pg, respectively. The determination of mercury in sample volumes up to 10 ml could be achieved by coupling a cold vapour generation system and an amalgam attachment to the FANES source. A detection limit of 22 was obtained with this technique. The best results were obtained by using the cold vapour generation technique and in situ enrichment of Hg onto the modified inner surface of the graphite tube of the FANES source. Using Ir for permanent impregnation of the tube a detection limit of 0.0009 was found. The influence of hydride forming elements on the determination of mercury by the technique of vapour generation and in situ enrichment was studied. A reduction of the concentration of NaBH₄ to 0.002% m/v made it possible to determine traces of mercury in presence of a high excess of hydride forming elements without any depression of the Hg emission intensity.The results were validated using standard reference materials.     

Demethylation of trimethylantimony species in aqueous solution during analysis by hydride generation/gas chromatography with AAS and ICP MS detection

The method of hydride generation for the speciation of antimony compounds was examined with respect to the problem of molecular "rearrangement'. Specifically, demethylation of trimethylstilbine during the analysis of trimethylantimony dichloride (Me₃SbCl₂) was studied. Previously published observations that enhanced demethylation takes place as a result of inadequate preconditioning of the analytical apparatus were found to be not reproducible. However, demethylation was enhanced as the pH decreased when using two different analytical methods: semi-continuous flow hydride generation–gas chromatography–atomic absorption spectrometry (HG– GC–AAS), and batch-type hydride generation– gas chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG–GC–ICP MS). Applications of the hydride generation method to environmental samples revealed differences in analytical results at high and low pH, and enhanced demethylation taking place because of the matrix in a fungal extract sample. The authors recommend that researchers using the method of hydride generation for antimony compounds carefully test the reaction conditions with standard compounds and use the method of standard addition only. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous flow hydride generation laser induced fluorescence spectrometry for trace determination of lead in water and sediment samples

Continuous flow hydride generation coupled with laser induced fluorescence spectrometry (HG-LIF) has been used for the determination of Pb in aqueous samples. Lead hydride is generated in K₃Fe(CN)₆-HCl medium using NaBH₄ as the reducing agent. Parameters such as acidity and the concentrations of oxidising and reducing agents have been studied in order to obtain the highest sensitivity. Laser excitation of Pb has been performed at 283.306 nm and fluorescence has been detected at 365 nm and 405.8 nm. The limit of detection calculated for the optimised conditions (1% K₃Fe(CN)₆ in 0.3% Oxalic Acid, 0.055 mol L^?1 HCl, 1% NaBH₄ in 0.1% NaOH) is 0.3 ng mL^?1. However, a significant Pb background was observed for blank measurements, which degraded the limit of detection. The limit of detection that is estimated for a Pb free blank was determined by detuning the laser to a wavelength of 282.806 nm and was found to be 0.45 pg mL^?1. Method repeatability is 3.5% RSD at the 10 ng mL^?1 level. The accuracy of this method has been evaluated by analysis of a water reference material. The results obtained for a multielement standard determined using the HG-LIF approach have been found to be in agreement with those obtained by using a comparison ICP-AES approach. The HG-LIF approach has been applied to the measurement of Pb in a contaminated sediment sample material. The results of this study demonstrate that a small tunable laser system combined with hydride generation sample introduction can be used to measure Pb with high sensitivity, precision and selectivity in different sample matrices.     

Determination of lead by hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS): On-line generation of plumbane using potassium hexacyanomanganate(III)

A hydride generation (HG) procedure has been described for determination of Pb by ICP-MS using potassium hexacyanomanganate(III), K₃Mn(CN)₆, as an additive to facilitate the generation of plumbane (PbH₄). Potassium hexacyanomanganate(III) was prepared in acidic medium as it was unstable in water. The stability of hexacyanomanganate(III) was examined in dilute solutions of HCl, HNO₃ and H₂SO₄. The solutions prepared in 1% v/v H₂SO₄ were found to be stable for over a period of 24 h. The least suitable medium was 1% v/v HNO₃. For generation of plumbane, acidic hexacyanomanganate(III) and sample solutions were mixed on-line along a 5-cm long tygon tubing (1.14 mm i.d.) and then reacted with 2% m/v sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). A concentration of 0.5% m/v K₃Mn(CN)₆ facilitated the generation of PbH₄ remarkably. In comparison to H₂SO₄, HCl provided broader working range for which optimum concentration was 1% v/v. No significant interferences were noted from transition metals and hydride forming elements, up to 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ levels, except Cu which depressed the signals severely. The depressive effects in the presence of 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ Cu were alleviated by increasing the concentration of K₃Mn(CN)₆ to 2% m/v. Under these conditions, the sensitivity was enhanced by a factor of at least 42 to 48. The detection limit (3 s) was 0.008 μg L⁻¹ for ²⁰⁸Pb isotope. Average signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ranged between 18 and 20 for 1.0 μg mL⁻¹ Pb solution. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of several certified reference materials, including Nearshore seawater (CASS-4), Bone ash (SRM 1400), and Mussel tissue (SRM 2976). The procedure was also successfully applied to the determination of Pb in coastal seawater samples by ICP-MS.     

Arsenic biomethylation by the microorganism apiotrichum humicola in the presence of l-methionine-methyl-d3

The microorganism Apiotrichum humicola (previously known as Candida humicola) grown in the presence of either arsenate, arsenite, methylarsonic acid or dimethylarsinic acid, produces arsenic-containing metabolites in the growth medium. When L-methionine-methyl-d₃ is added to the cultures, the CD₃ label is incorporated intact into the metabolites to a considerable extent to form deuterated dimethylarsenic and trimethyl-arsenic species, indicating that S-adenosylmethionine, or some related sulphonium compound, is involved in the biological methylation. Conclusive evidence of CD₃ incorporation in the arsenicals found in the growth medium was provided by using a specially developed hydride generation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system (HG–GC–MS).     

Hydride Generation Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Determination of Bismuth in Clinical Samples with in Situ Preconcentration

A sensitive method for the determination of bismuth in clinical samples using hydride generation/trapping and atomization in a graphite furnace is described. Addition of Pd-Ir to the furnace tube surface before hydride trapping leads to great improvement in the sensitivity of the method. Calibration is achieved with simple aqueous standards carried through this same procedure. An absolute detection limit (3σ) of 100 pg and a concentration detection limit of 20 ng/liter are obtained using 5-ml sample volumes. Corresponding precisions of 8-12% are typical for analyses of these samples. Microwave-assisted sample digestion procedures using HNO₃ and H₂O₂ were used to decompose clinical materials. The method was used to determine Bi in human blood, serum, urine, and tissue before and after intake of therapeutic doses of colloidal bismuth citrate.