Fabrics and papers modified with analytical reagents for the test determination of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV)

It is shown that Malachite Green and Crystal Violet immobilized on viscose fabrics can be used as reagents for the rapid determination of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV). Selenium is determine by the color intensity of ion associates formed by the reagents with the triiodide ion formed upon the reduction of selenium(IV) with potassium iodide and tellurium, by the color intensity of reagent ion associates with telluromolybdic heteropoly acid. The analytical ranges for selenium and tellurium(IV) were 0.005–0.5 and 0.01–0.1 mg/L upon passing 20 and 100 mL of a test solution through the indicator matrix, respectively. The duration of analysis does not exceed 15–20 min. The relative standard deviation is 50%. Test strips were proposed for determining 0.1–100 mg/L selenium(IV) and 1–1000 mg/L tellurium(IV) by the length of the colored zone. The determination of selenium(IV) is based on the oxidation of 4-nitrophenylgydrazine to its diazonium salt and salt interaction with naphthylamine chemically immobilized on paper with the formation of a red azo compound. The determination of tellurium(IV) is based on its reaction with Bismuthol II immobilized on a paper.     

Determination of inorganic selenium species by miniaturised isotachophoresis on a planar polymer chip

The use of miniaturised isotachophoresis to allow the simultaneous determination of two inorganic selenium species has been investigated using a poly(methyl methacrylate) chip with a 44-mm-long, 200-microm-wide, 300-microm-deep separation channel. The miniaturised device included an integrated on-column, dual-electrode conductivity detector and was used in conjunction with a hydrodynamic fluid transport system. A simple electrolyte system has been developed which allowed the separation of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) species to be made in under 210 s. The limits of detection were calculated to be 0.52 mg L(-1) for selenium(IV) and 0.65 mg L(-1 )for selenium(VI). The method allowed the separation of the selenium species from a range of common anions including fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulfate and sulfite.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of selenium in organoselenium compounds using aromatic o-diamines

Procedures for the extraction-spectrophotometric determination of selenium in organoselenium compounds using a new reagent, 1,2-diamino-3,4,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene (DAFB), and a known reagent, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN), are developed. Complexes of DAFB or DAN with selenium(IV) are extracted with toluene, and the absorbance of the extracts is measured. The optimal conditions for the determination were found, and the spectrophotometric characteristics were determined. The calibration curves are linear in the range of selenium concentrations of 1–10.6 mg/L (DAFB) and 1–9.1 mg/L (DAN). Nitrogen, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and sulfur present in organoselenium compounds do not interfere with the determination of selenium. The relative error of determination does not exceed ±2%.     

Rapid colorimetric determination of ascorbic acid by solid phase extraction of iodine into a polymethacrylate matrix

The proposed iodometric solid-phase spectrophotometry method is based on interaction of ascorbic acid with molecular iodine in a solution with further extraction of the unreacted iodine into a polymethacrylate matrix followed by its spectrophotometric measurement in the solid phase. The amount of iodine extracted by the matrix is in inverse linear dependence on the concentration of ascorbic acid in the solution. The method can be employed for the range of ascorbic acid concentrations 1.0–9.0 mg dm^–3, while its detection limit is 0.8 mg dm^–3.     

Voltammetry behavior of iodine and selenium on new organo-modified electrodes: Development of a procedure for the determination of iodine and selenium

The voltammetry behavior of iodine and selenium has been studied on new organo-modified electrodes. The conditions have been proposed for the measurement of the analytical signals of iodide and selenium ions on a silver electrode modified by aryl diazonium tosylates containing an amino group in the presence of a 0.1 M solution of N₂H₄ · H₂SO₄ (pH 2–3) without oxygen removal. A new approach and a procedure have been developed for the simultaneous determination of iodine and selenium in tap, drinking, and mineral waters using the organo-modified electrode. The analytical range is from 0.003 to 1.5 mg/L for iodide ions and from 0.003 to 2.0 mg/L for selenite ions.     

Test determination of titanium(IV) and germanium(IV) in waste and natural waters in the presence of each other

It was demonstrated that trihydroxyfluorones immobilized on cellulose matrices can be used as the reagents for the rapid determination of titanium(IV) and germanium(IV). A high retention of trihydroxyfluorones on cellulose paper (78–98%) and strong chemically stable mixed fabric (74–97%) makes it possible to use these materials for the immobilization of the reagents. Mixed fabric (viscose with cotton) with immobilized phenylfluorone was used for the test determination of 0.05–5 mg/L titanium(IV) and 0.01–5 mg/L germanium( IV) by the color intensity of the reaction zone of the indicator matrix after passing 20 mL of the analyzed solution through it. A test procedure was developed for the determination of 1–200 mg/L titanium(IV) and 0.5–1000 mg/L germanium(IV) by the length of the colored zones of the test strips sealed in a polymer film. The time of the analysis is 10–15 min. The relative standard deviation of the results of the determination of germanium( IV) and titanium(IV) is no higher than 30%.     

Determination of Selenium(IV) by Stripping Voltammetry at a Mercury-Film Electrode

A procedure was proposed for the determination of selenium(IV) by stripping voltammetry on a mercury-film electrode at an electrolysis potential of +0.4 V versus the saturated silver–silver chloride reference electrode in a 1 M H₂SO₄ solution. The current of the cathodic peak is a linear function of the selenium(IV) concentration in the range from 5 × 10^–3 to 3 × 10^–1 mg/L (6.3 × 10^–8 to 3.8 × 10^–6 M) at a time of electrolysis of 30 s (t _el). The detection limit for selenium is 1 × 10^–4 mg/L (1.3 × 10^–9 M) at t _el = 300 s. It was shown that selenium(IV) can be determined in the presence of 10 mg/L Zn(II), 1 mg/L Cd(II), 0.5 mg/L Pb(II), and 0.2 mg/L Cu(II). A procedure for the determination of selenium in natural, mineral, and potable water was proposed.     

Ceramic composite electrode for the determination of selenium(IV) by stripping voltammetry

A ceramic composite electrode for the determination of selenium(IV) was manufactured using solgel and screen-printing technologies. This electrode exhibits a higher sensitivity and selectivity in comparison with the other studied carbon-containing electrodes. The effect of the type and amount of graphite powder, modifier, catalyst, and pore-forming agent on the properties of the ceramic composite electrode was investigated. It was found that an increase in the pore size in the electrode reduced the selectivity of selenium(IV) determination. The calibration plot was linear over the range 0.1–20 μg/L at an accumulation time of 10 s. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 1.0 and 0.05 μg/L of selenium(IV) (n = 5) was 3% and 8%, respectively. The detection limit of selenium(IV) was 0.02 μg/L at an accumulation time of 90 s. The results of selenium(IV) determination in natural and mineral waters are presented.     

Solid phase spectrophotometric determination of silver using dithizone immobilized in a polymethacrylate matrix

Interaction of silver with Dithizone immobilized in a polymethacrylate matrix was studied. A simple procedure was proposed for the solid phase spectrophotometric determination of silver; the detection limit is 0.01 mg/L. The procedure was used for the analysis of mineral waters and the Protargol medication.     

Test analysis method using ion pairs of pyrocatechol azo derivatives and trihydroxyfluorones with cetylpyridinium and their chelates with metal ions immobilized on paper

A two-stage procedure is proposed for the immobilization of ion pairs of pyrocatechol azo derivatives and trihydroxyfluorones and their chelates with metal ions on paper. It is demonstrated that ion pairs of phenylfluorone and thiazolylazopyrocatechol with cetylpyridinium can be used for the test determination of 0.01-10 mg/L Ti(IV), 0.05-20 mg/L Mo(VI), and 0.1–20 mg/L W(VI) and V(V) by the length of the colored zone of test strips after their contact with a test solution and for the determination of 0.01-0.5 mg/L Al and Mo(VI) and 0.001-0.1 mg/L Ti(IV) by the color intensity of reactive papers after passing a test solution. Chelates of Mo(VI) with tiazolylazopyrocatechol and of Sb(III) with phenylfluorone are used for the test determination of 0.01-1000 mg/L cationic surfactants. The selectivity of reactions is studied, and procedures are proposed for the determination of the above elements in different materials. The relative standard deviation of the results of analysis is no higher than 50%.     

Comparative characterization of two techniques for selenium(IV) preconcentration on a film mercury electrode with the use of an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection

Two versions of selenium(IV) preconcentration and determination on a mercury film electrode (MFE) by cathode stripping voltammetry with an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection are compared. In one version, selenium(IV) is preconcentrated together with copper(II); in the other, selenium is preconcentrated on a copper-modified MFE. Under optimum conditions (against the 0.1 M HCl background at selenium electrolysis potentials from ?350 to ?400 mV and electrolysis times of 180–300 s), calibration curves for both selenium preconcentration versions are linear over the concentration ranges from 2.5 to 20 μg/L and from 50 to 250 mg/L. The selenium peak heights are well reproduced in both cases (in the range of the concentrations studied, S _r lie in the range from 0.02 to 0.05). Sequential copper and selenium preconcentration is more convenient: there is no need to add copper to each analyzed solution, and it is possible to optimize selenium preconcentration parameters (solution composition, electrolysis potential, and electrolysis time) regardless of the copper preconcentration parameters.     

A new reagent system for the highly sensitive spectrophotometric determination of selenium

Highly sensitive and simple spectrophotometric determination of selenium is described for the determination of selenium(IV) using a new reagent leuco malachite green. The method is based on the reaction of selenium(IV) with potassium iodide in an acidic condition to liberate iodine, the liberated iodine oxidizes leuco malachite green to malachite green dye. The green coloration was developed in an acetate buffer (pH 4.2–4.9) on heating in a water bath (∼ 40 °C). The formed dye exhibits an absorption maximum at 615 nm. The method obeys Beer’s law over a concentration range of 0.04–0.4 μg mL⁻¹ selenium. The molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity of the color system were found to be 1.67 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ cm-¹ and 0.5 ng cm⁻², respectively. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical parameters have been evaluated. The proposed procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of selenium in real samples of water, soil, plant material, human hair, and cosmetic samples. The results were compared to those obtained with the reference method. Statistical analysis of the results confirms the precision and accuracy of the proposed method. In addition, the developed method is cost-effective and involves easily accessible instrumentation technique which can be used by ordinary research laboratories.     

Selective photometric determination of low conentrations of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) in bottled drinking water

A procedure is developed for the selective photometric determination of selenium(IV) in bottled drinking water by the oxidation of Methylene Blue in 1 M HCl to colorless decomposition products and of selenium(VI) by its interaction with the specified reagent at pH 5–6 with the formation of a colored ion pair. The limits of detection are 1 and 0.8 µg/L, respectively. At the concentration of selenium(IV) 2 µg/L, the admissible weight ratios are: SeO₄^2-, Br₃^- (1: 20); Br^– (1: 60); I^–, IO₃^- and IO₄^- (1: 100). At equal concentration of selenium(VI), the following species: SeO₄^2-(1: 20); Br₃^-, Br^–, I^–, IO₃^-, and IO₄^- (1: 100) do not interfere with the determination. Other anions and cations present in highly mineralized waters do not interfere with the determination. The relative error of determination is 8–10% in the concentration range 2–10 µg/L of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) and does not exceed 5% in their concentration range of 10–100 µg/L.     

Potentials of thermal lens spectroscopy for polymethacrylate optical sensors

The sensitivity of the earlier proposed procedures for the determination of iron(II, III) with 1,10-phenanthroline, silver(I) with dithizone, mercury with copper(II) dithizonate, copper(II) with lead diethyldithiocarbamate, and ascorbic acid with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol using polymethacrylate optical sensitive elements for solid phase spectrophotometry is enhanced through the use of thermal lens spectrometry as the most sensitive method of molecular absorption spectroscopy. The limits of detection for all photometric reactions in the polymethacrylate matrix are reduced by an order of magnitude (to 10 nM) without substantial changes in the experimental conditions.     

Chemical equilibria and sequential extractive spectrophotometric determination of selenium(IV) and (VI) using the chromogenic reagent 4,4′-dichlorodithizone

The chromogenic reagent 4,4′-dichloro(3-mercapto-1,5-diphenylformazan), Cl₂H₂D _Z , forms a yellow–red-coloured complex with selenium(IV). The produced complex species was extracted quantitatively into n-hexane, and its absorbance was measured at 416?nm. The chemical composition of the extracted selenium(IV)-Cl₂H₂D _Z chelate and the molar absorptivity at 416?nm were found to be [SeO (Cl₂HD _Z )₂] and 9?×?10⁴?L?mol^?1?cm^?1, respectively. The values of the extraction constants (K _D, K _ex, β) enable a convenient application of the proposed system for the liquid–liquid extraction procedure and sequential spectrophotometric determination of traces of inorganic selenium(IV) and/or selenium(VI) after reduction of the later to selenium(IV) with HCl (6?M). Beer's law and Ringbom's plots were obeyed in the concentration range 0.01–20 and 0.5–19?µg?mL^?1 of selenium(IV), respectively, with a relative standard deviation of 2.2%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of selenium(IV) or (VI) and total inorganic selenium(IV) and (VI) in tap and freshwater samples.     

Continuous flow determination of nitrite with membrane separation/chemiluminescence detection

A method for the determination of nitrite in water utilizing a membrane separation process and a chemiluminescence detector, with the addition of air-stripping and air-carrier, is proposed. The microporous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) tube was used as separator to transfer nitric oxide (reduced by iodine in acidic media) into a gas phase. Air-stripping was used to enhance the separation. Chemiluminescence signals produced from the reaction of nitric oxide with ozone were linearly proportional to the concentration of nitrite from 10 ppb (micrograms as N/L) to 5 ppm (mg N/L). The relative standard deviation (n = 5) was 0.7% at 0.1 ppm. The time elapse from starting the sample flow until the signal reached a stable level was 1.5 min.     

The gas chromatographic determination of selenium(IV) and total selenium in natural waters with 1,2-diamino-3,5-dibromobenzene

The total selenium and selenium(IV) contents in sea water and river water can be determined directly by a gas chromatographic method with l,2-diamino-3,5-dibromobenzene without preconcentration. The reagent reacts only with selenium(IV) to form a 4,6-dibromopiazselenol; other oxidation states of selenium must therefore be converted to the tetravalent state for total selenium determinations. The piazselenol formed can be extracted quantitatively into 1 ml of toluene from 500 ml of sample water. A method is proposed for the determination of selenium(IV) and total selenium in natural waters at levels as low as 2 ng l^-1. Coastal sea water and river water in Japan contain 8–30 ng of Se(IV) and 20–50 ng of total Se per liter.     

Ion chromatography of nitrite at the ppb level with photometric measurement of iodine formed by post-column reaction of nitrite with iodide

The difficulty in ion-chromatographic determination of nitrite in aqueous solutions containing a high concentration of chloride arises mainly from incomplete resolution of the peaks for these anions on the separation column whose efficiency is not high. A photometric measurement of iodine formed by a reaction of nitrite with iodide has been found to make it possible to determine, chromatographically, trace amounts of nitrite without any interference from chloride; chloride does not oxidize iodide to produce iodine. The proposed method was based on the separation of nitrite from matrix anions on a silica-based anion-exchange column with a 1.5·10⁻³ M phthalate eluent (pH 5.0), followed by photometric measurement of the iodine (as triiodide) formed via a post-column reaction of the separated nitrite with iodide. The optimal conditions for the post-column reaction were established by varying the concentrations of iodide, copper(II) and nitric acid in a post-column-reaction solution and the length of a reaction tube. A calibration graph for nitrite, plotted as peak heights versus concentrations, was linear up to 1.50·10⁻⁵ M (690 ppb). The detection limit, defined at S/N=3, was 1.00·10⁻⁷ M (4.60 ppb) nitrite. The presence of chloride ions up to 0.01 M did not give any interference to the determination of nitrite. This method was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite in lake water, river water, sewage works water and snow samples without any pretreatment.     

Determination of nitrite in food samples by second-order calibration of kinetic spectrophotometric data

A method for the determination of nitrite in soil and vegetable samples by UV-Vis spectroscopy was proposed. The kinetic UV-Vis data were collected during the reaction between nitrite and 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid with concentration of 0.001 M and pH 1.6. Data were collected by standard addition method. Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares was employed to analyze data with non-negativity and three-way data structure constraints. The method can be used to solve matrix effect and unknown interferents in the determination of nitrite in complex samples. The proposed method was used to determine nitrite at low mg/L levels with satisfactory results in soil, lettuce, cabbage and cucumber samples.     

Sorption preconcentration and separation of Palladium(II) and Platinum(IV) for visual test and densitometric determination

We have demonstrated the advantages of the dynamic preconcentration and separation of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) on paper carriers modified with 3-methyl-2,6-dimercapto-1,4-thiopyrone. The optimal conditions of the solid-phase reaction have been determined in Pd(II) sorption; after its separation Pt(IV), has been preconcentrated by sorption as its dimercaptides. Test scales have been produced for the visual determination of 0.5–40 μg Pd(II) and 1–195 μg Pt(IV) in 10- and 100 mL-samples, respectively. In addition, a procedure of their sorption-chromaticity densitometry determination from a single aliquot portion has been developed with detection limits of 5 and 1 ng/mL, respectively, and a procedure of Pd(II) determination using a test strip (c _min = 0.40 mg/L) has been proposed. The procedures have been applied to the determination of palladium and platinum in electrolytes, sludges, and alloys.