Combined furnace—flame non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry for direct simultaneous multi-element analysis of air filters

Furnace volatilization followed by atomization in the flame of a non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometer is used for the direct, simultaneous, multi-element determination of Zn, Cd, Pb and Fe on air filter papers. Standardization is done by using blank filter papers impregnated with standard metal solutions. The results agree well with those obtained by a standard atomic absorption procedure.     

Multi-element analysis of airborne particulate matter by various spectrometric methods after microwave digestion

A microwave digestion procedure in combination of the measurement of various spectrometric methods including atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed for the multi-element analysis of airborne particulate matter collected on PTFE filters by a dichotomous sampler. In order to achieve more sensitive and rapid multi-element analyses, special PTFE-lined digestion vessels were used. It was found that complete digestion of airborne particulates with an acid mixture of HNO₃-HClO₄-HF (3:7:1, v/v) can be achieved in the microwave-irradiated closed vessel system and direct spectroscopic measurement of the digested sample after appropriate dilution. A recovery study was conducted using a multi-element standard and NIST Standard Reference Material 1648 Urban Particulate. Sixteen major, minor, and trace elements in airborne particulate matter were determined.     

Laser atomic absorption spectroscopy applying semiconductor diode lasers

The application of tunable single mode semiconductor diode lasers in atomic absorption spectroscopy is discussed in general. The use of several diode lasers, periodical modulation of the laser powers and Fourier analysis of the absorption signals allow background-corrected multi-element atomic absorption spectroscopy with extended dynamic range and internal standardization. This is demonstrated by the simultaneous determination of rubidium and barium in aqueous solutions with a commercial graphite tube atomizer.     

Comparison of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry of the metal content of sewage sludge with flame atomic absorption spectrometry in conjunction with different pretreatment methods

Determination of the metal content of sewage sludges is of increasing importance in order to assess the suitability of the sludge for disposal to agricultural land. The methods currently used for the determination of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc are time-consuming. A rapid electrothermal atomic absorption procedure with homogenization as the only pretreatment is compared with wet and dry pretreatment methods followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, in a statistically designed experiment. The precision of the rapid electrothermal atomic absorption procedure compares well with flame atomic absorption in conjunction with all pretreatment methods used. Time saved by the use of this method is substantial; the procedure could be used advantageously for routine analysis.     

Determination of Trace Elements in Aerosol Samples Collected on Polycarbonate Filters by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The multi-element analysis of aerosol samples collected on polycarbonate filters and the wet digestion procedure in open vessel were investigated. The concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with a micro injection system while Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni and V were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

NIES N[ddot] 8 “Vehicle Exhaust Particulate” Certified Reference Material from the Japan Environment Agency was used to study the decomposition of the samples. Different treatments were applied in order to completely dissolve the aerosol samples. It was found that, from all the methods tested, attack with micro-quantities of HNO₃ and HCIO₄ in an air pressure digestion system was the best procedure for the determination of the elements by AAS.

The recommended method was appropriate for all elements and it was applied to real samples. Two nondestructive analytical techniques for the determination of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Pb have been compared with the proposed method: proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). Results obtained by the application of these three techniques were similar.     

Pre-concentration procedure for determination of copper and zinc in food samples by sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this paper is proposed a simultaneous pre-concentration procedure using cloud point extraction for the determination of copper and zinc in food samples employing sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FS-FAAS). The reagent used is 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and the micellar phase is obtained using the non-ionic surfactant octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) and centrifugation. The optimization step was performed using Box-Behnken design for three factors: solution pH, reagent concentration and buffer concentration. A multiple response function was established in order to get an experimental condition for simultaneous extraction of copper and zinc. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the method allows the determination of copper with a limit of detection (3sigma(b)/S, LOD) of 0.1 microg L(-1), precision expressed as relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 2.1 and 1.3% (N=10), for copper concentrations of 10 and 50 microg L(-1), respectively. Zinc is determined with a LOD of 0.15 microg L(-1) and precision as R.S.D. of 2.7 and 1.7% for concentrations of 10 and 50 microg L(-1), respectively. The enhancement factors obtained were 36 and 32 for copper and zinc, respectively. The accuracy was assessed by analysis of certified reference materials, namely, SRM 1567a - Wheat Flour and SRM 8433 - Corn Bran from National Institute of Standards & Technology and BCR 189-wholemeal flour from Institute of Reference Materials and Measurements. The method was applied to the determination of copper and zinc in oats, powdered chocolate, corn flour and wheat flour samples. The copper content in the samples analyzed varied from 1.14 to 3.28 microg g(-1) and zinc from 8.7 to 22.9 microg g(-1).     

Accurate determination of the noble metals II. Determination methods

As was shown in the first part of this contribution, accurate analytical determination of the noble metals in rocks, ores and alloys needs a sophisticated sample pretreatment prior to the final determination step of the preconcentrated elements. For this many instrumental and classical methods are available, the choice of which is usually dictated by levels of precious metal to be handled, nature of sample matrix and availability of the instruments. For trace levels (μg/g range) flame atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry can be used. ICP emission is favoured because of ease of multi-element operation. At the sub-μg/g level furnace atomic absorption and nuclear techniques (mainly neutron activation) are favoured. Minor and % concentrations are best handled by X-ray fluorescence. The use of standard reference samples and internal and external laboratory control schemes are essential to the accurate determination of precious metals.     

Determination of noble metals in silicate rocks, ores and metallurgical samples by simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction

A new method has been developed for rapid determination of mug/g and ng/g amounts of noble metals in silicate rocks, ores and metallurgical samples by attacking with hydrofluoric acid and aqua regia, preconcentration by ion-exchange chromatography and measuring in a simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a polarized Zeeman background correction device which eliminated interferences from any incompletely separated common elements. The method was tested for Ru, Rh, Pt, Ir, Pd, Ag and Au with three Canadian certified reference materials, and then applied to the determination of ng/g amounts of these elements in four new Canadian candidate reference materials.     

Arsenic Speciation in Water by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Detection

A procedure was developed for determining arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonate, and dimethylarsinite ions in natural waters in concentrations 0.05–0.07 mg/L. The procedure involved separation by high-performance liquid chromatography and off-line determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The procedure was used to study arsenic transformations in the aquatic ecosystem of a tailing pit of an ore-dressing industrial plant.     

The use of a wavelength scanning technique for multi-element determinations by atomic fluorescence spectroscopy

Summary The simple modification necessary to a conventional atomic absorption spectrometer to enable it to be used for a wavelength scanning technique for multi-element atomic fluorescence determinations is described. Both a xenon arc lamp continuum and some dual-element electrodeless discharge lamps have been used as spectral sources. Results have been obtained for the rapid-sequential multi-element determination of several combinations of elements, and these show that the sensitivity and selectivity are the same by the scanning technique as by conventional atomic fluorescence.

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Wellenlängen-Scanning zur Multi-Elementbestimmung durch Atomfluorescenz-Spektroskopie

Zusammenfassung Eine einfache Modifikation eines konventionellen Atomabsorptions-Spektrometers wird beschrieben, die die Ausführung von atomfluorescenzspektrometrischen Bestimmungen mit Hilfe des Wellenlängen-Scanning gestattet. Als Lichtquellen dienen das Xenon-Bogenkontinuum sowie elektrodenlose Bielement-Entladungslampen. Die Ergebnisse der Bestimmung verschiedener Elementkombinationen zeigen, daß Empfindlichkeit und Selektivität der konventionellen Atomfluorescenzmethode entsprechen.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1, 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Experimental design in the optimization of a microwave acid digestion procedure for the determination of metals in biomorphic ceramic samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present paper, we have synthesized a biomorphic ceramic material from oak wood as biological template structure and infiltration with zirconia-sol. After the material characterization, we have optimized the sample dissolution by acid attack in an oven under microwave irradiation. Experimental designs were used as a multivariate strategy for the effect's evaluation of varying several variables. This article describes the development by response surface methodology (RSM) of a procedure for zirconium determination, and other ions, such as copper and nickel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and others, such as iron, calcium and magnesium determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in the synthesized sample after digestion. A full factorial design (3³) was used to find optimal conditions for the procedure through response surface study. Three variables (time, HNO₃ volume and HF volume) were regarded as factors and as response to the concentration of different metal ions in the optimization study.     

岩石样品中主次微量元素的X—射线荧光光谱测定

利用日本病理学３０６３型Ｘ－射线荧光光谱拟定了岩石中多元素测定方法，采用国家一级标准参照物质为难标准，用适应原子序数范围宽的散射幂函数法校正基体效应，本法获得了低的检出限，高的精密度和准确度。     

Graphite filter atomizer in atomic absorption spectrometry

Graphite filter atomizers (GFA) for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) show substantial advantages over commonly employed electrothermal vaporizers and atomizers, tube and platform furnaces, for direct determination of high and medium volatility elements in matrices associated with strong spectral and chemical interferences. Two factors provide lower limits of detection and shorter determination cycles with the GFA: the vaporization area in the GFA is separated from the absorption volume by a porous graphite partition; the sample is distributed over a large surface of a collector in the vaporization area. These factors convert the GFA into an efficient chemical reactor. The research concerning the GFA concept, technique and analytical methodology, carried out mainly in the author's laboratory in Russia and South Africa, is reviewed. Examples of analytical applications of the GFA in AAS for analysis of organic liquids and slurries, bio-samples and food products are given. Future prospects for the GFA are discussed in connection with analyses by fast multi-element AAS.     

Determination of riboflavin in pharmaceutical products by automatic discrete-sample analysis

A procedure for the determination of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese and chromium down to 0.01 μg g^-1 in sodium calcium silicate glass, sodium borosilicate glass, sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate is described. The analytical procedure depends on the separation at pH 6 of the metal diethyldithiocarbamates into isobutyl methyl ketone, and their determination by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, with a Massmann-type graphite furnace. The limiting factors on the detection limits attainable are discussed and related to the purity of the acids used for sample solution, sample contamination during chemical separation and the sensitivity of the analytical technique.     

Determination of palladium in sulfide-bearing rocks by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry with a continuous spectrum source

A possibility of the direct determination of palladium in dissolved samples of platinum sulfide ores by high-resolution electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a continuous light source without preconcentration and separation from the matrix components is investigated. The conditions of analysis are selected and a procedure for the determination of palladium is developed. The results of determination well agree with the data obtained using extraction separation and traditional atomic absorption spectrometry with selective line spectrum sources. The accuracy of the results was estimated by the added–found method.     

Multi-element simplex optimization for inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry with a plasma torch having a wide-bore injector tube : Part 1. Conditions for Optimum Detection Limit

An objective function, based on signal-to-background ratio measurements, with a variable step-size simplex procedure is used to optimize conditions for multi-element determinations by inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry. When a typical 10-elements solution was used, the optimization produced small but significant improvements in limits of detection. The ease with which optimal multi-element instrumental conditions were identified is attributed to the compact analytical zone of the plasma produced when a wide-bore (2 mm i.d.) injector tube is used.     

Multivariate technique for optimization of digestion procedure by focussed microwave system for determination of Mn, Zn and Fe in food samples using FAAS

This article describes the development by response surface methodology (RSM) of a procedure for iron, zinc and manganese determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in food samples after digestion employing a focussed microwave system. A Doehlert matrix was used to find optimal conditions for the procedure through response surface study. Three variables (irradiation power and time and composition of oxidant solution—HNO₃ + H₂O₂) were regarded as factors in the optimization study. The working conditions were established as a compromise between optimum values found for each analyte taking into consideration the robustness of the procedure. These values were 12 min, 260 W and 42% (v/v) for irradiation time, irradiation power and percent of H₂O₂ in solution, respectively. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials and by comparison with a well-established closed vessel microwave dissolution methodology.     

Simultaneous determination of Cu, Cd and Pb in drinking-water using W-Coil AAS

An inexpensive, multi-element, W-coil atomic absorption spectrometer has been developed. Atomization occurs on W-coils extracted from commercially available slide projector bulbs. The system has minimal power requirements, 120 ACV and 15 A. A small, computer controlled CCD spectrometer is used as the detector. A multi-element Cu, Cd and Pb hollow cathode lamp is used as the source. 20 mul volumes are deposited on the coil and atomized at 6.7 A or approximately 2200 degrees C. Cu, Cd and Pb were simultaneously determined in tap water, drinking water and a quality control sample. The instrument detection limits are 0.8, 0.2 and 3.0 mug/l for Cu, Cd and Pb, respectively.     

海水中铜锌铅镉的萃取-反萃取法同时提取-原子吸收光谱法测定

采用萃取-反萃取法同时提取出海水中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd,Cu、Pb、Cd石墨炉法测定,Zn用火焰法测定.对样品的前处理方法和最佳仪器条件进行了研究,并通过加标实验验证了方法的可靠性.结果表明:萃取-反萃取法能完全满足海水中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd的前处理要求,可节省一半前处理时间,有溶液稳定、环保、节省试剂等优点.