Preconcentration and determination of trace metals by flow injection micelle-mediated extraction using flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Micelle-mediated extraction/preconcentration is incorporated on-line into a flow injection system used to determine low levels of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) present in various samples. The analyte is complexed with HBDAP (N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2-diaminopropane). Under optimal conditions, a solution of 30% (m/v) NaCl and a sample solution containing 2.5 mL of 1% (m/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.5 mL of 1.8 × 10⁻³ M HBDAP and 2.5 mL of pH 8.5 borate buffer solution in 25 mL were pumped through the cotton filled mini-column; onto which the surfactant-rich phase containing the complex is collected. A solution of 0.5 M HNO₃ in 50% acetone is used as the eluent. The limits of detection are (ng mL⁻¹) Cd = 0.39, Cu = 3.2, Co = 7.5, Mn = 3.0, Ni = 3.4, Pb = 17.9 and Zn = 0.89 if the sample is allowed to flow for 30 s, but improved for extended preconcentration periods. Analysis of liquid and solid reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values. Complex formation constants between HBDAP and these metal ions were also determined potentiometrically.     

Extension of the dynamic range of flame atomic absorption spectrometry using flow injection analysis with variable-volume dilution chambers

A simple and inexpensive procedure is proposed for the extension of the dynamic range of flame atomic absorption spectrometry measurements using on-line dilution. The proposed methodology is based on the use of a manifold with two coupled dilution chambers and a zone injection system. The samples are prediluted in a closed system which includes a variable-volume mixing chamber (10–120 ml) and two injection valves. The samples are injected through one of these valves, and the other is employed to take 100 μl of prediluted samples which are then passed through a new dilution chamber (volume 1–10 ml) and aspirated by the nebulizer of the instrument. A third injection valve mounted in the last part of the manifold is used for the direct injection of diluted standard solutions. Various dilution factors are obtained, ranging from 2 to 130 000 times, thus extending the analytical range of copper determination to more than 100 000 mg l⁻¹.     

Determination of iron and copper in food samples by flow injection cloud point extraction flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, flow injection-cloud point extraction (FI-CPE) of iron and copper in food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination was described. Triton X-114 non-ionic surfactant and Eriochrome Cyanine R (ECR) have been used as an extraction medium and a chelating agent, respectively. The amounts of Triton X-114, ECR and the pH value necessary for extraction were carefully optimized. In addition, several parameters of the FI-CPE system, including sample loading rate, column dimension, type of packing material, eluent flow rate were investigated and analytical characteristics of the method were evaluated. Under optimum conditions, detection limits of 0.33 ng/mL and 0.57 ng/mL and quantification limits of 1.1 ng/mL and 1.9 ng/mL for iron and copper along with enrichment factors of 141 and 99 were obtained, respectively. The calibration was linear over the range 1.5-25 ng/mL and 1.0-35 ng/mL for iron and copper, respectively. The proposed CPE technique has been successfully applied for the determination of iron and copper ions in certified reference materials (NCS DC 73349—bush, branches and leaves; and TM-23.2—fortified water), water samples (mineral and sea water) and food samples (vegetables, bread and hazelnut) with high efficiency.     

在线还原富集火焰原子吸收光谱法测定环境水样中Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)的形态

采用单阀双阳离子交换树脂微柱并联，设计了双路采样逆向洗脱在线分离富集系统，该系统与原子吸收测量技术相结合，实现了在线分离富集-火焰原子吸收光谱法同时测定水中Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)，富集1min时，分析速度为60样/h，测定Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)的特征浓度分别为6．08μg/L和11．58μg/L(相当于1％吸收)，线性范围分别为0～1．0μg/mL和0～2．0μg/mL，对质量浓度为100μg/L的Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)测定的相对标准偏差分别为2．9％和3．0％、检出限分别为8．70和10．8μg/L。该法对实际水样加标回收率在94．5％～104．3％之间。     

悬浮液进样-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定百合中的微量元素梁保安

将处理后的百合研磨成粒度小于0.1 mm的粉状物, 加入稳定剂琼脂制成悬浮液, 用LaCl3和CsCl消除相关干扰, 采用标准加入法在同一试液中利用空气-乙炔火焰原子吸收光谱法测定Zn、 Mn、 Fe、 Cu、 Ca、 Mg、 K、 Na 8种元素. 结果表明, 兰州百合中Zn、 Mn、 Fe、 Cu、 Ca、 Mg、 K、 Na的质量分数分别是162.0、 5.0、 30.8、 8.4、 295.9、 574.2、 522.9、 291.6 μg/g. 加标回收率分别为: Zn 99.4%～100.5%、 Mn 98.0%～101.8%、 Fe 92.7%～97.5%、 Cu 99.9%～102.9%、 Ca 96.0%～100.0%、 Mg 93.3%～102.5%、 K 91.7%～103.8%、 Na 99.1%～105.0%. 以传统湿法的测定结果为参考对测定值进行t检验, 发现两者无显著性差异, 说明悬浮液进样法的测定结果准确可靠.     

Flow injection on-line dilution for flame atomic absorption spectrometry by micro-sample introduction and dispersion using syringe pumps

A robust flow injection (FI) on-line dilution system based on micro-sample introduction was developed for flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Two computer programmed and stepper-motor driven syringe pumps were used for the precise and reproducible sample metering in micro-liters and carrier delivery. Factors, which might influence the performance of the system, such as sample matrix and carryover, were investigated. No inferior effects were observed with various matrices including 10% glycerol. Sample carryover effects were less than 0.4%, tested by analyzing a blank and a sample alternately. Dilution factors were decided and keyed in manually. The system was calibrated using a set of concentrated standard solutions for a given dilution factor. At a sampling frequency of 60 h⁻¹, precisions were better than 2% R.S.D. (n=40) for dilution factors of 10-2000. The long-term stability of the system was examined by continuously running the system for a whole working day, and a precision of 2.6% R.S.D. (n=345) was obtained at a dilution factor of 1000. The system was verified by analyzing a standard copper alloy with a certified concentration of 57.4% Cu, resulting in a measurement solution with 574 mg l⁻¹ Cu.     

An ion-exchange method for speciation of antimony by flow injection electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

In this work, a simple preconcentration system, achieved by replacing the sample tip of the autosampler arm by a micro-column packed with Amberlite IRA-910 or silica gel chelating resin functionalised with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridyl)methylene tbiocarbohydrazide (DPTH-gel), is developed for the determination of Sb(V) and total antimony, respectively. Different factors including pH of sample solution, ionic strength, concentration and volume of eluent, sample flow rate, sample loading time and matrix effects for preconcentration were investigated. The method has been applied to the determination of antimony species in different samples.     

Coupling of flow injection wetting-film extraction without segmentation and phase separation to flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace copper in water samples

A flow injection wetting-film extraction system without segmentor and phase separator has been coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace copper. Isobutyl methyl ketone (MIBK) was selected as coating solvent and 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) as the chelating reagent. By switching of a 8-channel valve and alternative initiation of two peristaltic pumps, MIBK, sample solution containing copper chelate of oxine, and air-segment sandwiched eluting solution (1.0 mol l⁻¹ nitric acid) were sequentially aspirated into an extraction coil made of PTFE tubing of 360 cm length and 0.5 mm i.d. The formation of organic film in the wall of the extraction coil, extraction of the copper chelate into the organic film and back-extraction of the analyte into the eluting solution occurred consecutively when these zones aspirated into the extraction coil were propelled down the extraction coil by a carrier solution at a flow rate of 2 ml min⁻¹. After leaving the extraction coil, the concentrated zone was transported to the nebulizer at its free uptake rate for atomization. Under the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor of 43 and a detection limit of 0.2 μg l⁻¹ copper were achieved at a sample throughput rate of 30 h⁻¹. Eleven determinations of a standard copper solution of 60 μg l⁻¹ gave a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. Foreign ions possibly present in tap water and natural water did not interfere with the copper determination. The developed method has been successfully used to the determination of copper content of tap water and river water.     

Dithizone immobilized silica gel on-line preconcentration of trace copper with detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel adsorbent-silica gel bound dithizone (H₂Dz-SG) was prepared and used as solid-phase extraction of copper from complex matrix. The H₂Dz-SG is investigated by means of FT-IR spectra and the SEM images, demonstrating the bonding of dithizone. The H₂Dz-SG quantitatively adsorb copper ions, and the retained copper is afterwards collected by elution of 10% (v/v) nitric acid. An on-line flow injection solid-phase extraction procedure was developed for trace copper separation and preconcentration with detection by flame atomic spectrometry. By loading 5.4 mL of sample solution, a liner range of 0.5-120 μg L⁻¹, an enrichment factor of 42.6, a detection limit of 0.2 μg L⁻¹ and a precision of 1.7% RSD at the 40 μg L⁻¹ level (n = 11) were obtained, along with a sampling frequency of 47 h⁻¹. The dynamic sorption capacity of H₂Dz-SG to Cu²⁺ was 0.76 mg g⁻¹. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by determination of copper in reference water sample. The potential applications of the procedure for extraction of trace copper were successfully accomplished in water samples (tap, rain, snow, sea and river). The spiking recoveries within 91-107% are achieved.     

Determination of trace metals in urine with an on-line ultrasound-assisted digestion system combined with a flow-injection preconcentration manifold coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A flow analysis method with on-line sample digestion/minicolumn preconcentration/flame atomic absorption spectrometry is described for the determination of trace metals in urine. First, urine sample was on-line ultrasound-assisted digested exploiting the stopped-flow mode, and then the metals were preconcentrated passing the pre-treated sample through a minicolumn containing a chelating resin. A home-made minicolumn of commercially available imminodiacetic functional group resin, Chelite Che was used to preconcentrate trace metals (Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni) from urine. The proposed procedure allowed the determination of the metals with detection limits of 0.5, 1.1, 0.8 and 0.8 μg L⁻¹, for Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, respectively. The precision based on replicate analysis was less than ±10.0%, and the enrichment factor obtained was between 21.3 (Mn) and 44.1 (Ni), for sample volumes between 2.5 and 5.0 mL, and an eluent volume of 110 μL. This procedure was applied for determination of metals in urine of workers exposed to welding fumes and urine of unexposed persons (urine control).     

Determination of essential metals in complete diet feed by flow injection and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A prior study of different sample pre-treatments for the determination of metallic elements in complete diet feeds was performed in order to choose the most suitable for these samples. The studied pre-treatment were: acid extraction (lixiviation), wet digestion (on microwave oven) and dry ashing mineralization (calcination). Lixiviation (acid extraction) with hydrochloric acid was selected due to its accuracy, fast and simple pre-treatment procedure. Due of the different levels of concentration of the metallic elements in the samples, the same manifold was used but with small variations. Copper (with on-line pre-concentration by chelating Chelex-100 resin), calcium (with on-line dilution) and iron determination gave suitable accuracy and precision and required a little time for analysis. Five different samples were analyzed by flow injection and the results were contrasted with dry ashing mineralization in batch procedure and with the labeled contents.     

蒸气发生火焰原子吸收法测定面粉中的铜

用自制的蒸气发生装置,在强还原剂存在下,对铜蒸气的生成进行了详细研究,并通过该装置测定非蒸气发生元素镁和在络合剂掩蔽下测铜两种不同的方法进行了验证。对酸的种类及浓度、NaBH4溶液流速及浓度、反应管道长度的影响等实验参数和干扰情况进行了研究。用该方法测定了面粉中铜的质量分数,检出限为6μg L。     

Flow injection sorbent extraction with dialkyldithiophosphates as chelating agent for the determination of cadmium, copper and lead by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Using octadecyl functional groups (C₁₈) bonded to silica gel as sorbent and methanol as eluent, the flow injection sorbent extraction features of dialkyldithiophosphates (RO)₂P(S)S⁻ as the chelating agent for cadmium, copper and lead was investigated in respect of the effects of pH, alkyl substituent group, reagent concentration and masking agent, with flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection. The elements are quantitatively extracted with the short-alkyl-chain reagents (R up to propyl) in acidic medium. The extractability decreases with the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups of the reagents and with the reagent concentration when the alkyl groups are larger than butyl, but masking agents increase the extractability. An explanation proposed for this effect is the formation of polynuclear chelates. Diethyldithiophosphate can be used for the selective determination of cadmium, copper and lead in digested solid environmental samples. With 20 s sample loading at 8.7 ml min⁻¹, the enhancement factors are 35 for cadmium and copper or 26 for lead; the detection limits (3σ) are 0.8, 1.4 and 10.0 μg 1⁻¹ for cadmium, copper and lead, respectively.     

Cadmium determination in biological samples by direct solid sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A direct solid sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric procedure for trace determination of cadmium in biological samples has been developed. Test samples (0.05–2.00 mg) were ground and weighed into small polyethylene vials, which were connected to the device for solid sample introduction into a conventional air/acetylene flame. Test samples were carried as a dry aerosol to a quartz cell, placed between the burner and the optical path, which had a perpendicular entrance and a slit in the upper part. The atomic vapor generated in the flame produced a transient signal that was totally integrated within 1 s. The effect of operating conditions and the extent of grinding on the analytical signal were evaluated. Background signals were always low and a characteristic mass of 0.29 ng Cd was obtained. Calibration was performed using different masses of solid certified reference materials. Results obtained for certified and in-house reference materials were typically within the 95% confidence interval of the certified and/or reference value, and the precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was between 3.8 and 6.7%. The proposed system is simple and it might be adapted to conventional atomic absorption spectrometers allowing the determination of Cd in more than 80 test samples per hour, excluding weighing.     

Chemometric investigation of systematic error in the analysis of biological materials by flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Systematic errors observed when using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic spectrometry (ETAAS) for the analysis of biological solid materials (seafood products) were evaluated. The effect of the sample pre-treatment method (microwave-assisted acid digestion, ultrasound-assisted acid leaching and slurry sampling) as well as the number of times that a certain pre-treatment process is repeated, were two factors evaluated. They give information about the effect of the sample pre-treatment on the uncertainty in the analysis. In addition, the number of measurements (i.e., number of times that an acid digest, an acid leachate or aqueous slurry are analysed) and the calibration technique used (aqueous calibration method or standard addition technique) were other two variables taken into account. This last factor gives information about the effect of the calibration on the results, while the replicate measurements showed the repeatability. A fifth variable named as sample matrix tests the influence of the matrix sample on the systematic error through the use of different reference materials. This variable allows the study of the effect of the trace element concentrations on the uncertainty because the trace elements contents are different in each reference material. Experimental design and principal component analysis approaches were used as chemometric tools. It has been found that the use of the slurry sampling technique in ETAAS and FAAS and the determination of high element concentrations by ETAAS have led to poor precision.     

Flow injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometry system for indirect determination of cyanide using cadmium carbonate as a new solid-phase reactor

A new and simple flow injection system procedure has been developed for the indirect determination of cyanide. The method is based on insertion of aqueous cyanide solutions into an on-line cadmium carbonate packed column (25% m/m suspended on silica gel beads) and a sodium hydroxide with pH 10 is used as the carrier stream. The eluent containing the analyte as cadmiumcyanide complexes, produced from reaction between cadmium carbonate and cyanide, measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The absorbance is proportional to the concentration of cyanide in the sample. The linear range of the system is up to 15 mg L⁻¹ with a detection limit 0.2 mg L⁻¹ and sampling rate 72 h⁻¹. The method is suitable for determination of cyanide in industrial waste waters with a relative standard deviation better than 1.22%.     

Separation and preconcentration by flow injection coupled to tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A flow injection system coupled to a tungsten coil electrothermal atomizer has been developed for on-line separation and preconcentration, using lead as a model element. The system utilizes three-way solenoid valves for sampling, buffering, washing and reconditioning solution management, and the resin column is inserted in the tip of the autosampler arm of a Varian GTA-96. The solenoid valves and tungsten coil power supply were controlled by a computer program written in Visual Basic, interfaced with the built-in Varian software. The system performance was tested by loading the resin column with the sample flowing at 3 ml min⁻¹ for 60 s. Elution was performed automatically by sampling 20 μl of the eluent from a sample cup of the autosampler, and this aliquot was delivered into a 150 W tungsten coil. With Chelex-100 resin, the separation of concomitants was tested with lead in the presence of as much as 1000 mg l⁻¹ of Ca, Mg, Na or K. The model system presented an enrichment factor of 64 at a sampling rate of 30 samples per hour.     

Chromium speciation using activated alumina microcolumns and sequential injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new procedure has been developed for chromium speciation in water by sequential injection analysis and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method involves the online retention of Cr(VI) anionic species and Cr(III) cationic species on alumina microcolumns, prepared by packing activated alumina in polytetrafluoroethylene tubes, followed by selective elution of Cr(VI) with 2 mol l⁻¹ NH₄OH and of Cr(III) with 0.2 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃. Studies were carried out on the effect of retention and elution conditions for both Cr species. The limit of detection values, established as the concentration corresponding to three times the standard deviation of blank measurements divided by the slope of the calibration line, achieved were 42 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(VI) and 81 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(III). The relative standard deviation of three independent determination of natural spiked samples were lower than 10% for concentration levels between 0.5 and 2 mg l⁻¹ of Cr. The developed procedure was applied to the analysis of two effluent sewage waters, and results obtained compared well with those obtained by a batch procedure. Recovery studies on natural spiked samples provided results between 93 and 103% for Cr(VI) and from 100 to 106% for Cr(III) for samples spiked with single species. For samples spiked with both Cr(VI) and Cr(III), the average recoveries varied from 86 to 101% for Cr(VI) and from 91 to 117% for Cr(III).     

Automatic flow system for the sequential determination of copper in serum and urine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this work, a fully automated flow system exploiting the advantages of the association of multi-pumping, multicommutation, binary sampling and merging zones, to accomplish the sequential determination of copper in serum and urine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, is described. The developed flow system allowed multiple tasks, such as serum samples preparation (samples and standard solutions viscosity adjustment), serum copper (SCu) measurement, urine copper (UCu) pre-concentration and its subsequent elution and measurement, to be carried out sequentially. The implemented flow manifold presented a modular configuration consisting on two quasi-independent modules, each one accountable for a specific sample manipulation and whose combined operation under computer control enabled the determination of copper in a wide concentrations range.Once optimised and with a sample consumption of about 0.250 mL of serum and 7 mL of urine, the developed flow system allowed linear calibration plots up to 5 mg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.035 mg L⁻¹ for SCu and linear calibration plots up to 300 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.67 μg L⁻¹ for UCu. The sampling rate varied according to the module employed and was about 360 determinations h⁻¹ (SCu module), 12 determinations h⁻¹ (UCu module) or 24 determinations h⁻¹ (12 urine and 12 serum samples; UCu and SCu modules simultaneously). Repeatability studies (R.S.D.%, n = 10) showed good precision for UCu at concentrations of 25 μg L⁻¹ (2.54%), 50 μg L⁻¹ (0.90%) and 100 μg L⁻¹ (1.62%) as well as for SCu at concentrations of 0.25 mg L⁻¹ (8.11%), 1 mg L⁻¹ (3.11%) and 5 mg L⁻¹ (0.90%). A comparative evaluation showed a good agreement between the results obtained in the analysis of UCu and SCu (n = 18) by both the developed methodology and the reference procedures. Accuracy was further evaluated by means of the analysis of reference samples (Seronorm™ Trace Elements Urine and Seronorm™ Trace Elements Serum) and the obtained results complied with the certified values.