Ultratrace molybdenum determination in biological samples by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

A method is described for molybdenum determination in human serum at sub-ng/ml levels by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. Sample preparation involves a nitric acid digestion, chelation with benzohydroxamic acid and extraction into hexanol. A detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml and a characteristic concentration of 0.18 ng/ml for 1% absorption can be achieved. The effectiveness of the method has been demonstrated by analysis of unspiked and spiked human serum, standard reference materials, and comparison with the results obtained by inductively-coupled plasma atomic-emission spectroscopy.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of molybdenum and copper by adsorption cathodic differential pulse stripping method using a principal component artificial neural network

An adsorption differential pulse stripping method for the simultaneous determination of molybdenum and copper based on the formation of their complexes with cupferron (benzene, N-hydroxy-N-nitroso) is proposed. The optimum experimental conditions were obtained 0.010 mM cupferron, pH 3.0, accumulation potential of -0.15 V versus Ag/AgCl, accumulation time of 60 s, scan rate of 10 mV s(-1) and pulse height of 50 mV. Molybdenum and copper peak currents were observed at -0.16 and +0.02 V, respectively. A principal component artificial neural network (PC-ANN) was utilized for the analysis of the voltammogram data. A three layer back-propagation network was used with sigmoidal transfer function for the hidden and the output layers. The linear dynamic ranges were 5.0-60.0 and 0.1-20.0 ng ml(-1) for Cu(II) and Mo(VI), respectively. The detection limit was 0.06 ng ml(-1) for Mo(VI) and 0.20 ng ml(-1) for Cu(II). The capability of the method for the analysis of real samples was evaluated by the determination of molybdenum and copper in river water, tap water, and alloy.     

Simultaneous determination of copper,mercury and antimony in biological samples by neutron activation and substoichiometric extraction

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of copper, mercury and antimony by thermal neutron activation analysis involving substoichiometric extraction technique. The results of analysis indicate that copper, mercury and antimony in biological samples can be determined with an accuracy of 5.3%, 5.5% and 6.2%, respectively. Two samples and a standard can be analysed by the proposed method in about 4 hrs. Part of this work was presented at the International Conference on Modern Trends in Activation Analysis, Saclay, Paris, France, October 2–6, 1972.     

New voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous determination of copper and mercury in environmental samples

Summary A new voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous determination of Cu and Hg down to the ng/l-range in environmental samples is described. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) at a gold electrode is applied. There are two versions. For Hg-levels typically below 100 ng/l in presence of substantially higher Cu-concentrations (300 ng/l or more), e.g. in sea water, Hg has to be determined by the subtractive mode of DPASV at a twin gold electrode and programmed polarisation has to be applied during the cathodic deposition stage, while the usually higher Cu-levels can be determined by common DPASV at a normal gold electrode. For Hglevels above 100 ng/l the determination of Hg and Cu can be performed in the same run by common DPASV at a normal gold electrode. The application of the gold electrode always requires medium exchange to 0.1 M HClO₄ plus 2.5×10^–3 M HCl subsequent to the cathodic accumulation stage before stripping. The method has been successfully applied to natural waters and wine. The necessary sample pretreatment remains simple and consists just in UV-irradiation to release the trace metal amount bound to dissolved organic matter, which is performed with samples from natural waters after prior 0.45 -filtration to separate from suspended particulate material.

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Neues voltammetrisches Verfahren zur simultanen Bestimmung von Kupfer und Quecksilber in Umweltmaterial

Zusammenfassung Als Bestimmungsverfahren werden zwei Versionen der differentiellen Pulsinversvoltammetrie (DPASV) an der Goldelektrode eingesetzt. Bei Quecksilbergehalten typisch unter 100 ng/l und gleichzeitiger Anwesenheit höherer Kupferkonzentrationen (300 ng/l), wie z.B. im Meerwasser, muß Hg mit der subtraktiven DPASV an einer Zwillingselektrode aus Gold bestimmt werden und während des kathodischen Anreicherungsschrittes erfolgt programmierte Polarisation der Goldelektrode. Hingegen können die gewöhnlich höheren Cu-Gehalte mit der üblichen konventionellen DPASV an einer normalen Goldelektrode bestimmt werden. Bei Hg-Gehalten oberhalb 100 ng/l kann die Bestimmung von Hg und Cu in einem voltammetrischen Arbeitsgang mit der konventionellen üblichen DPASV an einer normalen Goldelektrode erfolgen. Die Verwendung der Goldelektrode verlangt immer Wechsel des Mediums zu 0,1 M HClO₄ plus 2,5 ×10^–3 M HCl nach der kathodischen Anreicherung vor der stripping-Phase. Die Methode hat erfolgreiche Anwendung bei der Untersuchung natürlicher Gewässer und von Wein gefunden. Die erforderliche Probenvorbereitung bleibt einfach und besteht in einer UVBestrahlung, um den durch gelöste organische Materie gebundenen Spurenmetallanteil zu mobilisieren. Bei Proben aus natürlichen Gewässern erfolgt vorher eine 0,45 -Filtration zur Abtrennung von Schwebstoffen.

     

Simultaneous determination of plutonium and americium in biological and environmental samples

A radiochemical method is given to determine the specific activity of²³⁸Pu, and²⁴¹Am from the global fallout in environmental and biological samples. The radiochemical recovery was for human livers Pu: 60–70%, Am: 40–60%; Bran: Pu: 50–70%, Am: 30–40%; Soil: Pu: 50–80%, Am: 30–50%. The resolution of the alpha-spectrum was for soils 30–40 keV and for livers and brans 40–60 KeV. To facilitate the wet ashing of large amounts of bran (15 kg), which are necessary to determine the presently very small activity concentrations of the transuranic elements in these types of samples, a fermentation process was employed. The procedure was tested by using NBS standard reference material and subsequently applied for the determination of Pu and Am from the global fallout in livers, plant tissues (bran), and soils.     

Metal analysis in real matrices. Simultaneous voltammetric determination of copper and antimony in alloys

This work addresses the simultaneous determination of copper(II) and antimony(III) in real matrices by differential pulse (DPASV) and fundamental harmonic alternating current anodic stripping voltammetry (ACASV). The voltammetric measurements were carried out using as supporting electrolyte the same acidic mixture (nitric, hydrochloric and perchloric acids) used in the dissolution of the real matrices with proper dilution. The procedure of the sample preparation is thus reduced to one step hence avoiding errors from long and complex sample handlings prior to the instrumental measurement. The results were verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials NBS-SRM 631 Spectrographic Zinc Spelter D-2 and BCS 207/2 Gunmetal. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, and the accuracy, expressed as relative error, were, in all cases, less than 5%; the detection limit, for each element and in the experimental conditions employed, was around 10⁻⁷ M. The standard addition technique improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high metal concentration ratios.     

Simultaneous determination of arsenic and selenium in biological samples by HG-AFS

A new method is proposed for simultaneous determination of traces of arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) in biological samples by hydride-generation double-channel non-dispersive atomic-fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) from tartaric acid media. The effects of analytical conditions on fluorescence signal intensity were investigated and optimized. Interferences from coexisting ions were evaluated. Under optimum conditions linear response ranges above 20 g L^–1 for As and 32 g L^–1 for Se were obtained with detection limits of 0.13 and 0.12 g L^–1, respectively. The precision for elevenfold determination of As at the 4 g L^–1 level and of Se at the 8 g L^–1 level were 2.7 and 1.9% (RSD), respectively. Recoveries of 92.5–95.5% for As and 101.2–108.4% for Se were obtained for four biological samples and two certified biological reference materials. The proposed method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity, and high efficiency; it was successfully used for simultaneous determination of As and Se in biological samples.     

Catalytic-adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of molybdenum in plant foodstuffs

In acetate buffer solution (pH 3.5) containing oxine and chlorate, ultratrace amounts of molybdenum can be determined after adsorptive accumulation of the Mo(VI)-oxine complex on a hanging mercury drop electrode, coupled with the catalytic effect on the reduction of chlorate. Under optimized conditions, the catalytic-adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure gives excellent selectivity and an extremely low detection limit of 1.7 pM molybdenum (60 s accumulation). The stripping peak current increases linearly with molybdenum concentration between 10 pM and 5.0 nM. The procedure is applied to determine traces of molybdenum in plant foodstuffs.     

Simultaneous neutron-activation determination of selenium and mercury in biological samples by volatilization

A method is described for the determination of selenium together with mercury in biological samples by neutron-activation analysis based on quantitative volatilization of both elements. The technique originally developed for mercury, based on pyrolysis with filtration of undesirable impurities and selective trapping from the gas phase, is now extended to selenium. The radionuclides (197)Hg and (75)Se, from one sample, are trapped separately and counted in a well-type NaI(Tl) detector and gamma-spectrometer for maximum sensitivity. The method has been tested by comparative analyses and analyses of standard biological materials, and gives good results. It is simple and is especially effective in studies of the interaction of mercury and selenium in biological systems; a positive correlation for these elements was found for human tissues. On décrit une méthode pour le dosage du sélénium conjointement au mercure dans les échantillons biologiques par analyse par activation de neutrons basée sur la volatilisation quantitative des deux éléments. La techniqu initialement développée pour le mercure, basée sur la pyrolyse avec filtration des impuretés indésirables et captage sélectif de la phase gazeuse, est maintenant étendue au sélénium. Les radionuclides (197)Hg et (75)Se, d'un échantillon, sont captés séparément dans un détecteur NaI(Tl) du type puits et un spectromètre gamma pour la sensibilité maximale. La méthode a été essayée par des analyses comparatives et des analyses de produits biologiques étalons, et donne de bons résultats. Elle est simple et particulièrement efficace dans les études de l'interaction du mercure et du sélénium dans des systèmes biologiques; on a trouvé une corrélation positive pour ces éléments pour des tissus humains.     

Simultaneous determination of phosphorus-32 and calcium-45 activity in biological samples

Using the technique of liquid scintillation,³²P and⁴⁵Ca activites were determined in biological samples such as bones, blood, milk and egg shells, white and yolk. Samples were mineralized in 70% HClO₄ and 30% H₂O₂ at 70 °C and measured after addition of the “Aquasol” scintillation liquid. A correction for quenching was made by the method of sample channels ratio. High detection efficiencies were obtained, above 80% for⁴⁵Ca and about 50% for³²P in a second measuring channel. Recoveries amounted to 0.95–1.06 for³²P and to 0.93–0.98 for⁴⁵Ca.     

A novel voltammetric method for the direct determination of copper in complex environmental samples.

A novel voltammetry with a modified gold electrode for the direct determination of copper in environmental samples, without any pretreatment, is proposed in this paper. A porous disorganized monolayer was formed on the surface of the gold electrode by the self-assembly of mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), which could selectively permeate small molecules. Subtractive square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SASV) was applied to determine copper, in which the underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper was used as the deposition step. The linear range was from 8 x 10(-7) to 1 x l0(-5) mol l(-1) by the modified electrode in the presence of human serum albumin, and the determination was not interfered with common metal ions. Copper in a real environmental sample was successfully detected.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of toxic metals in sediments

Voltammetric methods are very suitable, versatile and rapid techniques for the simultaneous metal determination in complex matrices. The work, regarding the determination of As(III), Se(IV) and Mn(II), is a very interesting example of the possibility for simultaneously determining each single element in real samples in a wide range of concentration ratios. The differential pulse (DPV) measurements were carried out using a conventional three-electrode cell, while ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.6) was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analyses of standard reference materials: estuarine sediment BCR-CRM 277 and river sediment BCR-CRM 320. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative S.D. and relative error, respectively, were in all cases of the order of 3-5%, while the detection limit for each element was around 10(-8) M. The standard addition technique improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high element concentration ratios.     

Simultaneous determination of titanium and molybdenum in steel samples using derivative spectrophotometry in neutral micellar medium

A simple, selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the individual and simultaneous determination of Ti(IV) and Mo(VI) using resacetophenone p-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone (RAPHBH) in presence of Triton X-100, without any prior separation. Beer's law is obeyed between 0.13-1.2 microg mL-1 and 0.18-1.90 microg mL-1 concentration of Ti(IV) and Mo(VI) at 455 nm and 405 nm, respectively. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the coloured complexes at pH 3.0 are 3.1x10(4) L mol-1 cm-1, 4.2x10(4) L mol-1 cm-1, and 1.6 ng cm-2, 2.3 ng cm-2 for Ti(IV) and Mo(VI), respectively. The stoichiometry of the complexes were found to be 1:2 and 1:1 (metal:ligand) for Ti(IV) and Mo(VI), respectively. These metal ions interfere with the determination of each other in zero-order spectrophotometry. The first derivative spectra of these complexes permitted a simultaneous determination of Ti(IV) and Mo(VI) at zero crossing wavelengths of 500.0 nm and 455.0 nm, respectively. The effect of foreign ions in the determination of Ti(IV) and Mo(VI) were investigated. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of titanium and molybdenum in standard alloy steel, mineral and soil samples.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of uric and ascorbic acids in urine

Anodic voltammetric method for simultaneous determination of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) in urine has been developed with the use of a commercial working rotating glassy carbon electrode. UA may be determined in a sample diluted by the buffer supporting electrolyte (HOAc+NH(4)OH; pH 5.1-5.2) approximately 100 times, and AA-in a sample diluted approximately 20 times. Before obtaining the analytical signal the electrode should be maintained in the diluted sample during 3 min at potential 0 V and the working electrode rotating 100 rpm, for achievement of the adsorption equilibrium of inhibitors from the urine matrix. For UA the electron transfer is close to reversible, for AA it is an irreversible one. Optimal voltammetric techniques are the square-wave for UA and the differential pulse for AA. Calibration curves, detection limits and recoveries for both determinations were evaluated as satisfactory.     

A reliable and ultrasensitive voltammetric method for the determination of molybdenum

Summary The determination of molybdenum(VI) in aquatic media by polarography, voltammetry and adsorptive stripping voltammetry using the formation of a Mo-chlorate-mandalic acid complex at +100 mV (SCE) is described. The 3 s_blank-detection limit is 0.1 nmol/l with differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdsSV, catalytic current). The calibration graphs are linear up to 200 nmol/l for the latter, 400 nmol/l for staircase voltammetry without accumulation time and 1 mg/l for staircase polarography. The accuracy of the DPAdsSV method was checked by analysis of a standard reference water material. The utility of differential pulse voltammetry was tested in different aquatic media, e.g., tap water, ground water, surface water.

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Eine zuverlässige und äußerst empfindliche Methode zur Bestimmung von Molybdän

     

Simultaneous determination of iodine and selenium in biological samples by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

Summary Regarding the favourably sensitive nuclear characteristics of iodine and of selenium but the very different half lives of their induced nuclides ¹²⁸I and ⁷⁵Se, a radiochemical neutron activation analysis method for simultaneous determination of these elements in a single sample was developed. It is based on the double irradiation LICSIR technique — Long Irradiation for Se (40h), Cooling (a week or more), Short Irradiation for iodine (1–15 min) with following Radiochemistry. After the second short irradiation, the sample is ignited in an oxygen flask and iodine and selenium are sequentially and selectively extracted as elemental iodine and 5-nitro-2,1,3 benzoselena diazole chelate. With the described method biological samples were analysed and the reliability of the results was checked by the analyses of different standard reference materials. Good agreement with certified values and high radiochemical purity of the spectra show the applicability of the radiochemical separation developed.     

Simultaneous determination of ketone bodies in biological samples by gas chromatographic headspace analysis

A method is described on gas chromatographic headspace analysis for the determination of the physiological ketone bodies: acetone, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The procedure proposed involves quantitative conversion of both acetoacetate by decarboxylation in a strong acidic medium, and beta-hydroxybutyrate by oxidation to acetoacetate and decarboxylation to acetone, which is then quantified chromatographically. The successful application of the method is illustrated by the values of ketone bodies in plasma, kidney, lung, and liver of fed and 48-hr-fasted rats.     

The rapid colorimetric determination of molybdenum with dithiol in biological, geochemical and steel samples.

A rapid method for the determination of molybdenum in botanical, biological, geochemical and steel samples with dithiol, is described. Botanical and biological samples are ashed at 550 °C before leaching with 4 M hydrochloric acid, while geochemical samples are fused with potassium hydrogensulphate, and steels are decomposed with nitric and hydrochloric acids. The dithiol complex of molybdenum is formed by the addition of an alkaline solution of dithiol to the sample solution, and then extracted into isoamyl acetate. Ascorbic acid and citric acid are used to eliminate interferences from iron and tungsten, and the addition of potassium iodide gives the procedure very high tolerance to copper. Up to 150 geochemical samples or ashed botanical or biological samples can be analysed per man-day. Sensitivity of the method is 0.05, 0.5 and 10 p.p.m. for biological, geochemical and steel samples, respectively. The relative standard deviation is better than ±7% over the standard range used, and recovery of added molybdenum is complete.