Determination of selenium in soils by slurry-sampling graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry with polytetrafluoroethylene as silica modifier

A 6% slurry of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in 4% hydrofluoric acid and 1% nickel nitrate were used as modifiers for determination of selenium in soils by GF AAS. PTFE was used to remove silica from the soil sample, because this resulted in severe matrix effects. The temperature of fluorination, determined thermogravimetrically, was 600 degrees C. The yield of fluorination depends on the molar ratio of PTFE/silica, particle size, and the time and temperature of fluorination. The soil samples were pretreated with a small amount of concentrated hydrofluoric acid placed directly in the cup of autosampler. The results for the determination of selenium in the reference soil materials by means of the slurry-sampling technique and use of aqueous standards are in good agreement with the certified values.     

一次消解土壤样品测定汞、砷和硒

建立了测定土壤中3种挥发性元素(汞、砷、硒)的一次消解方法,确定以程序控温石墨自动消解仪+王水-氢氟酸-硼酸络合敞开体系为最佳消解体系,采用氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法(HG-AFS)分别测定同一消解液中汞、砷、硒的含量.采用国家标物中心有证标准物质土壤环境样品GSS-1~GSS-8进行了方法验证,结果均符合标准偏差的允许范围.此消解方法相比于现行标准方法,避免了针对各元素的分次处理,简化了消解步骤,节省了前处理时间,减少了试剂消耗,提高了实验效率,适用性广、灵敏度高、检出限低,尤其适合批量样品的微量/痕量元素分析,可作为一种大规模土壤样品中重金属污染监测和治理的快捷方法.     

Modified Babington nebulizer for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

A PTFE Babingtonnebulizer equipped with a hood was investigated for inductively coupled plasma atomicemission spectrometry in conjunction with a PTFE cyclone chamber, in order to nebulize various sample solutions containing high salts, hydrofluoric acid and/or suspended solid. A hood of 3 mmphi (nozzle side) - 5 mmphi (outlet side) and 6 mm in length gave a comparable or higher sensitivity compared to a system with a commercially available concentric nebulizer and a glass cyclone chamber. Moreover, the present nebulizer was fully interchangeable with a concentric one at normal argon pressure, attaining sufficient stability, a short wash-out time and good nebulizing of high matrices solutions. The present system was successfully applied to the determination of trace impurities in highly pure silica powders.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of arsenic, selenium and tellurium at mug levels

An analytical method, based on differential pulse polarography, for determination of arsenic, selenium and tellurium in solid matrices, is described. The method involves decomposition of the matrix with a mixture of nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acid, isolation of tellurium from the other analytes by liquid-liquid extraction (from 4M hydrochloric acid with methyl isobutyl ketone), and determination of the analytes. Tellurium is determined separately, and arsenic is determined in the same solution as selenium after determination and oxidation of the selenium and addition of catechol. Graphitized carbon black and chelating resin were used to eliminate the organic solvent in the aqueous solution and avoid interferences due to the other metals of the matrix. The decomposition, the influence of each analyte on the determination of the others, and the extraction process were given particular attention. The method is characterized by>96% recovery, with a relative standard deviation ranging from 2 to 10% at ppm levels.     

Ion chromatographic analysis of anions in ammonium hydroxide,hydrofluoric acid,and slurries,used in semiconductor processing

In this study, ion chromatography (IC) with suppressed conductivity detection was used for the determination of trace anions in 29% (w/w) ammonium hydroxide, 49% (w/w) hydrofluoric acid and slurries. For these samples, various sample pretreatment methods were applied to eliminate matrix interferences. For concentrated ammonium hydroxide, an on-line electrochemical neutralizer (SP10 AutoNeutralization module) was used to neutralize the base prior to the IC analysis. For concentrated hydrofluoric acid, a heart cutting technique with an ion-exclusion column was used to separate the anions of interest prior to an IC separation. A method was also developed to analyze chloride in silica slurries by IC.     

The effect of palladium modifier on the efficiency of antimony hydride trapping in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

A slurry fluorination electrothermal vaporization (ETV)-ICP-AES method for the determination of Cu and Cr in SiO₂ powders has been developed. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion is used as fluorinating reagent; the matrix (Si) is partially separated from the sample by selecting the ashing temperature and time to reduce the interference. Moreover, the vaporization behaviour has been investigated in detail. The detection limits are 1.1 ng/mL with 3.8% of RSD (Cu) and 1.6 ng/mL with 3.2% of RSD (Cr). The method is applied to analyze the SiO₂ powders with satisfactory results. Received: 6 January 1997 / Revised: 13 March 1997 / Accepted: 28 March 1997     

Direct determination of trace rare earth elements in high purity Y2O3 using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling

A new method for the determination of trace amounts of 14 rare earth elements in high purity Y₂O₃ using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion was used as a fluorinating reagent to promote the vaporization of the analytes from graphite furnace. The main factors affecting analytical signals were investigated systematically. The interference of matrix could be minimized in the presence of PTFE. Under optimum conditions, the detection limits for rare earth elements were 0.032 ng∼2.52 ng and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.4% to 4.3%. The proposed method was applied to the direct analysis of high purity Y₂O₃ powder with satisfactory results. Received: 19 June 1999 / Revised: 10 December 1999 / Accepted: 16 December 1999     

The determination of silica by conway's microdiffusion technique

A new approach is suggested to the determination of silica. Silica is converted to volatile silicon-fluoride compounds by the action of hydrofluoric acid and is quatitatively isolated by Conway's microdiffusion technique in a polypropylene cell. To promote diffusion, a sulphuric acid medium is used; ethylene glycol serves as absorbent. Quantities of 20-70 μ SiO₂ per 0.5 ml were tested, with quantitative recovery. The silica was determined spectrophotometrically by the molybdenum blue method.     

碘量法测定铜冶炼烟尘中铜

试验研究了铜冶炼烟尘中铜含量的测定方法,试料用盐酸、氢氟酸、硝酸、高氯酸及硫酸分解,氢溴酸除去砷、锡、锑,硫酸除去硒的干扰。进一步对滴定条件和共存元素的干扰及消除进行了试验,最终确定了最佳条件。按照实验方法测定6个铜冶炼烟尘样品中铜量,结果的相对标准偏差为0.22%~0.65%,精密度高,准确度好。样品加标回收率在98.92%~100.38%之间, 适用于铜冶炼烟尘中铜含量为5.00 %～65.00 %的测定。     

石墨炉原子吸收法测定土壤中铅、镉、钴、锑、铍

建立石墨炉原子吸收法测定土壤中铅、镉、钴、锑、铍含量的方法。优化了石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定条件,在最佳实验条件下,采用硝酸-盐酸-氢氟酸-双氧水混合酸体系微波消解土壤样品,选用抗坏血酸-硝酸镁混合溶液为基体改进剂。铅、镉、钴、锑、铍的质量浓度在各自的范围内与吸光度成良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.999,各元素的检出限为0.008~0.06 μg/g。样品加标回收率为90.5%~104.0%,测定结果的相对标准偏差均小于2.5%(n=6)。该方法样品前处理简便,灵敏度高,检出限低,测定结果准确、可靠,可用于土壤中铅、镉、钴、锑、铍的测定。     

Determination of antimony in sediments and soils by slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using a permanent chemical modifier

For comparison of action of mixed permanent modifiers Ir/Nb and Ir/W, the influence of the amounts of modifier components was studied and the atomic absorption pyrolysis and atomization curves were determined with different modifiers. The optimum amounts of modifier components were 30 μg Ir and 40 μg of Nb that were deposited onto the L'vov platform in advance to analytical measurements. The long-term performance of the Ir and Nb permanent modifiers was derived from the investigations by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The soil and sediment slurries were prepared in 4% hydrofluoric acid and 6% suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene in order to remove the high concentration of silica during the pyrolysis step of 900 °C. The calibration was made by using aqueous standards. The analysis of certified reference materials confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the proposed analytical approach. The precision of Sb determination was characterized with less than 6% RSD.     

Microwave digestion of fish tissue for selenium determination by differential pulse polarography

In KIO(3)NH(3)NH(4)Cl medium, the selenium complex Se(O)SO(2-)(3), resulted from the reaction of selenite and sulphite in acid solution, gave a catalytic wave, which was applied to the determination of selenium in fish by differential pulse polarography. The sample was decomposed using the HNO(3)/H(2)SO(4)/H(2)O(2) digestion mixture in a closed PTFE digestion vessel with microwave heating. The detection limit was 0.06 mug/dm(3). The calibration curve was linear up to 8 mug/dm(3). Selenate present was reduced with hot hydrochloric acid to selenite. The recoveries of the selenite and selenate in two spiked samples investigated ranged from 91 to 104%. The NIES CRM No. 6 mussel was analyzed and the results obtained agreed well with the reference value (reference value: 1.5 mug/g; found: 1.43 +/- 0.05 mug/g). The results obtained by differential pulse polarography were in good agreement with those found by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Direct determination of trace rare earth elements in high purity Y2O3 using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling

A new method for the determination of trace amounts of 14 rare earth elements in high purity Y₂O₃ using fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion was used as a fluorinating reagent to promote the vaporization of the analytes from graphite furnace. The main factors affecting analytical signals were investigated systematically. The interference of matrix could be minimized in the presence of PTFE. Under optimum conditions, the detection limits for rare earth elements were 0.032 ng～2.52 ng and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.4% to 4.3%. The proposed method was applied to the direct analysis of high purity Y₂O₃ powder with satisfactory results.     

Two-step solvent extraction flow injection system for the determination of anionic surfactants by spectrophotometry

 An automated flow injection procedure for the determination of anionic surfactants with two-step extraction was developed, based on the official methylene blue method. A washing step was used for on-line treatment of the extracted products with methylene blue to eliminate interferences. An improved gravitational phase separator was used to overcome the limitations of the membrane separator, and an effective separation of the two phases was performed by gravity separation in a conical cavity constructed of PTFE and stainless steel. Use of PTFE pump tubing allowed reliable and reproducible withdrawal and propulsion of organic extractant at low flow-rates. The calibration graphs were linear up to 6.0 mg/l of sodium dodecyl sulfonate in aqueous solution when 100 μl of sample was injected, a relative standard deviation of 4.6% (n=7) was achieved. The recoveries of the procedure were in the range of 89–107%. The results obtained for anionic surfactants in waste water samples agreed well with those obtained by the standard methylene blue batch method. Received: 1 December 1995/Revised: 1 April 1996/Accepted: 9 April 1996     

Determination of total chromium in terrestrial and marine samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after pressure digestion

A comparison between two commonly used sample digestion procedures was performed for the determination of total chromium in biological matrices. Ten reference materials (terrestrial and marine matrices) have been digested in HNO₃, HNO₃ + HClO₄ and HNO₃ + HF, respectively, under pressure in quartz vessels of a high pressure asher (HPA) or in PTFE bombs with external heating. Much lower chromium values than expected were obtained in most of the reference materials by using quartz vessels with nitric acid because of adsorption of chromium at quartz surfaces. Determinations after sample digestion in PTFE vessels with external heating showed expected results, except in some reference materials which precipitated more silica. An improvement of the results was observed by using a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid, but only the combination of nitric acid and a small amount of HF provided the desired results in all the reference materials studied. Received: 29 January 1997 / Revised: 20 May 1997 / Accepted: 22 May 1997     

Determination of total chromium in terrestrial and marine samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after pressure digestion

A comparison between two commonly used sample digestion procedures was performed for the determination of total chromium in biological matrices. Ten reference materials (terrestrial and marine matrices) have been digested in HNO₃, HNO₃ + HClO₄ and HNO₃ + HF, respectively, under pressure in quartz vessels of a high pressure asher (HPA) or in PTFE bombs with external heating. Much lower chromium values than expected were obtained in most of the reference materials by using quartz vessels with nitric acid because of adsorption of chromium at quartz surfaces. Determinations after sample digestion in PTFE vessels with external heating showed expected results, except in some reference materials which precipitated more silica. An improvement of the results was observed by using a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid, but only the combination of nitric acid and a small amount of HF provided the desired results in all the reference materials studied. Received: 29 January 1997 / Revised: 20 May 1997 / Accepted: 22 May 1997     

Direct determination of trace copper and chromium in silicon nitride by fluorinating electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with the slurry sampling technique

A method has been developed for the determination of trace impurities in silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) powders by fluorination assisted electrothermal vaporization (ETV) /ICP-AES using the slurry sampling technique. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion as a fluorinating reagent not only effectively destroys the skeleton of Si₃N₄, but also carries out selective volatilization between the impurity elements (Cu, Cr) and the matrix (Si). The experimental parameters influencing fluorination reactions were optimized. The detection limits for Cu and Cr are 1.05 ng/mL ( Cu) and 1.58 ng/mL (Cr), the RSDs are in the range of 1.9–4.2%. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of Cu and Cr in Si₃N₄ ceramic powders. The analytical results were compared with those obtained by independent methods. Received: 8 December 1998 / Revised: 1 February 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 1999     

Determination of SiO2 in lime mud by gravimetry

A simple and rapid method for the determination of SiO₂ in lime mud used in current sulfate pulping practice is reported. The lime mud samples are treated three times with 2.5 mL of 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid. The samples are nearly evaporated to dryness two times and the third time to complete dryness. To determine the exact SiO₂ content of the residue, it is treated with an excess of concentrated hydrofluoric acid and a little hydrochloric acid, and the silica is expelled as volatile silicon tetrafluoride. The sample treatments take about 1.5 h and the heating periods take a total of about 3.5 h. The SiO₂ results were evaluated by analyzing National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Materials, SRM, (1c, 694 and 88b). The method was found to be accurate and precise in a 95% confidence interval, rapid, and highly repeatable. The repeatability standard deviation for SRMs was calculated to be 0.49%. Received: 20 November 1998 / Revised: 12 March 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 1999     

Determination of trace elements in marine plankton by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

A method has been developed for the determination of 23 elements in marine plankton in which inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source mass spectrometry (MS) was used to quantify the elements in the solution after digestion in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in sealed PTFE vessels in a microwave field. The procedure was validated by the analysis of a standard reference soil (SRM 2709 San Joaquin Soil) and a standard reference fresh water plankton (CRM 414). The method was applied to the analysis of several marine plankton samples grown under controlled conditions including several whose growth media had been enriched with selenium. Matrix induced signal suppressions and instrumental drift were corrected by internal standardization. The suitabilities of germanium, indium, rhodium, scandium and yttrium as internal standard elements were evaluated. Neither scandium nor yttrium could be used due to the presence of these elements in the samples, germanium was used for the determination of As, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se, Si and Zn, indium was used for Al, Ba, Ca, Eu, Sr, and Tl, and rhodium was used for Cd, Cr, Hg, Mg, Pb, Sb, Sn, and V. For Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Si, Sr, V, and Zn internal standardization did not completely compensate for the suppressive effect of the heavier elements and the solutions were diluted. However, for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Eu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn and T1, it was possible to obtain accurate results despite the 35-40% suppression in the signals. Isobaric overlap was only a problem in the cases of 42Ca and 78Se; 44Ca and 77Se, respectively, were used. Memory effects were only observed with Hg for which a nitric acid-sodium chloride solution was the most effective wash-out solution. The marine plankton samples were able to tolerate a higher concentration of Hg as the selenium concentration increased.     

离子色谱法测定蚀刻槽废氢氟酸中的六氟硅酸

建立了一种新的检测蚀刻槽废氢氟酸中六氟硅酸的离子色谱方法。色谱柱为Metrosep A Supp 7阴离子交换柱,流动相为3.2 mmol/L碳酸钠-1.0 mmol/L碳酸氢钠,流速为0.7 mL/min。六氟硅酸经过抑制型电导检测器后进行衍生化反应,在360 nm波长下用紫外检测器检测。六氟硅酸的线性范围为2.4~120 mg/L,相关系数r²大于0.999,定量限为0.24 mg/L,平均加标回收率为97.2%。本方法还可以同时利用电导检测器检测废氢氟酸中的氢氟酸、醋酸、盐酸、硝酸、磷酸和硫酸的含量。该方法快速、准确,适用于蚀刻槽液中六氟硅酸的检测。