Determination of lead in drinking waters by hydride generation and atomic-absorption spectroscopy, and three other methods

Simultaneous presence of copper and nickel in potable waters interferes with the determination of lead at trace levels by the hydride-atomic-absorption spectrophotometric method. This interference is eliminated by co-precipitating lead with manganese dioxide from acidic solution. The precipitate is dissolved in 0.85% nitric acid and analysed by the automated hydride-atomic-absorption method. This method has been applied to 22 representative water samples and results compared with those obtained by using differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry, flame atomic-absorption and graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The precision of the three methods is reported and their accuracy checked by the analysis of reference standard water samples. The sensitivity of the three methods is of the order of 1 mug/l., compared to 100 mug/l. for flame atomic-absorption. The merits of each method are discussed.     

Solvent extraction of N-Cyclohexyl-N-Nitrosohydroxylamine (cnha) into some organic solvents and of the Cu(II)-cnha complex into methyl isobutyl ketone

The distribution equilibria of N-cyclohexyl-N-nitrosohydroxylamine (cnha) in the water-chloroform, water-hexane, water-methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and water-isopentyl alcohol systems, and of the Cu(II)-cnha complex in the water-MIBK system have been studied. From the distribution data the dissociation and distribution constants of the reagent have been calculated; their values are pK(a) = 5.55 +/- 0.10; log K(DR) = 2.46 +/- 0.05 (chloroform), 1.76 +/- 0.11 (MIBK), 1.06 +/- 0.07 (hexane) and 1.48 +/- 0.06 (isopentyl alcohol). In the same way the values of the distribution and stability constants of the Cu(II) complex have been obtained; log K(DC) = 3.51; log beta(1) = 7.23 +/- 0.10 and log beta(2) = 12.00 +/- 0.08. For the determination of cnha in the aqueous phase saturated with MIBK, a spectrophotometric method based on the coloured complex formed by the reagent with Fe(III) has been established. Finally, an analytical method for Cu(II) by atomic-absorption spectrometry after its extraction with cnha into MIBK, is proposed. Its detection limit is 4.6 mug l ., its precision +/- 2.1% and its accuracy 97.5%. This method has been applied to the determination of the copper content in the surface water of the Congest River of Catalonia (Spain).     

A solvent extraction-atomic absorption technique for the simultaneous determination of low concentrations of iron, nickel, chromium and manganese in drinking water

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the extraction of Fe, Ni, Cr and Mn in drinking water samples with a new reagent, pentamethylene dithiocarbamate, into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and their subsequent determination by atomic-absorption spectrometry. The extraction has been carried out at a high aqueous: organic phase ratio to achieve a 35-fold preconcentration factor. Extraction parameters and interference factors are discussed. The precision based on replicate analyses is between 3 and 10% for a concentration range of 2-250 microg/l. of the four metals. The detection limits (3sigma) for Fe, Ni, Cr and Mn are 0.30, 0.36, 0.40 and 0.22 microg/l., respectively, corresponding to a metal concentration of 0.50 microg/l.     

Determination of arsenic in ores, concentrates and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A recent graphite-furnace atomic-absorption method for determining approximately 0.2 mug/g or more of arsenic in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments, after separation from matrix elements by cyclohexane extraction of arsenic(III) xanthate from approximately 8-10M hydrochloric acid, has been modified to include an alternative hydride-generation atomic-absorption finish. After the extract has been washed with 10M hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper and residual iron, arsenic(III) in the extract is oxidized to arsenic(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into water. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, arsenic is reduced to arsenic(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 4M hydrochloric acid and ultimately determined to hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 193.7 nm, with sodium borohydride as reductant. Interference from gold, platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide before the iodide reduction step. The detection limits for ores and related materials is approximately 0.1 mug of arsenic per g. Results obtained by this method are compared with those obtained previously by the graphite-furnace method.     

Determination of tellurium in copper, lead and selenium by atomic-absorption spectrometry after extraction of the trioctylmethylammonium-tellurium bromide complex

A simple, rapid and sensitive combined solvent extraction and atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of tellurium in copper, lead, selenium and blister copper. Tellurium is extracted as the trioctylmethylammonium-tellurium(IV) bromide complex into butyl acetate and determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry of the extract. As little as 1 mug of tellurium in a sample can be determined. The extraction of tellurium from hydrobromic acid solution with trioctylamine has also been investigated.     

Determination of cadmium in urine by extraction and flameless atomic-absorption spectrophotometry Comparison of urine from smokers and non-smokers of different sex and age

A method is presented for determining cadmium in urine by nameless atomic-absorption spectrophotometry after extraction. The sample is dried, ashed in the presence of nitric acid, and then the residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Cadmium is extracted as its tetrahexylammonium iodide complex into methyl isobutyl ketone. The organic phase is analysed for cadmium by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with electrothermal atomization. The median urinary excretion of cadmium for smokers aged 50-64 has been found to be 0.7 and 0.75 mug l . for males and females respectively, the values for non-smokers being 0.25 and 0.4mug l .     

Direct determination of beryllium, copper and zinc in AlU matrices by electrothermal atomization atomic-absorption spectrometry

An atomic-absorption spectrometric method with electrothermal mode of atomization has been developed for the direct determination of Be, Cu and Zn in AlU (3:1) matrix samples without prior chemical separation of the major matrix. The studies carried out include the effect of the matrix on the analyte absorbance, optimization of sample aliquot and other experimental parameters, and analysis of a number of synthetic samples. Nanogram amounts of the analytes can be determined with a solution aliquot of 5 microlitres containing 25 micrograms of the sample with a precision of 6% or better. The analytical range obtained for these analytes is Be: 2-20 mug/l., Cu: 20-200mug/l. and Zn: 1-40mug/ml in the AlU matrix. The analysis of synthetic samples has shown good agreement with their added contents.     

Use of long chain alkylamines for preconcentration and determination of traces of molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium by atomic-absorption spectroscopy--III. Tungsten in geological samples

Tungsten is determined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy after its reduction to the W(V)-thiocyanate complex with tin metal and extraction with Alamine 336 into chloroform. Atomic absorbance is measured on a final MIBK solution after evaporation of the chloroform and redissolution of the residue in MIBK. Interference effects are shown to be negligible for diverse cations and anions, including Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Mo, Al and Bi. Analysis of geological samples with an exceptionally wide range of W content from 2.8 ppm to 10% is achieved with relative standard deviations better than 5%.     

Use of long-chain alkylamines for preconcentration and determination of traces of molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium by atomic-absorption spectroscopy-II: molybdenum in soils, sediments and natural waters

Molybdenum is extracted as the thiocyanate complex with the quaternary long-chain aliphatic amine Aliquat 336 in chloroform, followed by evaporation of the solvent, dissolution in MIBK, and atomic-absorption spectroscopy. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive, with few interference problems for the determination of the Mo content of soils and sediments in the range 0.1-1.0 ppm with a relative standard deviation better than 5% when 1-g samples are used. Quantitative extraction from large volumes of aqueous solution has also been confirmed, allowing the determination of Mo in natural waters in the ppM range.     

Determination of microgram quantities of silver in aluminium-, iron-, and nickel-base alloys

Trace quantities of silver in commercial nickel and its alloys are quantitatively extracted from 10% hydrochloric acid medium containing 2% ascorbic acid and 9% potassium iodide by a 5% solution of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide in 4-methylpentan-2-one (MIBK). The MIBK-extract containing the silver is then nebulized directly into an atomic-absorption flame. The sensitivity for the determination of silver in MIBK is about 6 times that for aqueous media. The proposed technique is accurate, rapid, and has a standard deviation of +/- 0.025 ppm at the 1 ppm level. The limit of detection is 0.2 ppm of silver. The method is also applicable to a number of elements in aluminium- and iron-base alloys.     

Determination of rubidium, strontium and barium in barite by atomic-absorption spectrometry after dissolution in disodium ethylenediaminetetra-acetate

A simple and rapid method is described for determining up to 50% of barium, approximately 350 mug/g or more of strontium and approximately 1 mug/g or more of rubidium in barite samples. The method involves dissolution of the barite by refluxing with an ammoniacal disodium EDTA solution. For the determination of total strontium and rubidium, the silicate residue remaining is filtered off and decomposed with hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids to recover residual strontium and rubidium. Barium and strontium are subsequently determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry and rubidium is determined by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. Results obtained for barium and strontium in several barites by the proposed method are compared with those obtained by wavelength-dispersive and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. The method is reliable and more rapid than conventional methods.     

Atomic-absorption determination of beryllium in liquid environmental samples

A method is described for the atomic-absorption determination of beryllium in liquid environmental samples after separation by solvent extraction and cation-exchange. The beryllium is first isolated from natural waters and beverages by chloroform extraction of its acetylacetonate from a solution at pH 7 and containing EDTA. The chloroform extract is then mixed in the ratio of 3:6:1 with tetrahydrofuran and methanol containing nitric acid, and passed through a column of Dowex 50 x 8 (H(+)-form). After removal of acetylacetone, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran by washing the resin bed with methanol-HNO(3), beryllium is eluted with 6M hydrochloric acid and determined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. The method was successfully applied to determine beryllium in tap-, river- and sea-water samples, mineral waters and wines. Beryllium contents in the range from < 0.01 to 2.3 microg/l were found in these materials.     

Determination of gold, indium, tellurium and thallium in the same sample digest of geological materials by atomic-absorption spectroscopy and two-step solvent extraction

A rock, soil, or stream-sediment sample is decomposed with hydrofluoric acid, aqua regia, and hydrobromic acid-bromine solution. Gold, thallium, indium and tellurium are separated and concentrated from the sample digest by a two-step MIBK extraction at two concentrations of hydrobromic add. Gold and thallium are first extracted from 0.1M hydrobromic acid medium, then indium and tellurium are extracted from 3M hydrobromic acid in the presence of ascorbic acid to eliminate iron interference. The elements are then determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The two-step solvent extraction can also be used in conjunction with electrothermal atomic-absorption methods to lower the detection limits for all four metals in geological materials.     

Determination of gold in silver, copper, lead, selenium and anode slime by atomic-absorption spectrometry

A simple and sensitive combined solvent-extraction and atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of gold in silver, copper, lead, selenium and anode slime. Samples are decomposed with hydrochloric and nitric acids, and gold is extracted as the trioctylmethylammonium-gold bromide complex and determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry by direct spraying of the extract into the flame. Optimal conditions for the extraction and determination of gold have been established. As little as 0.5 mug of gold in a sample can be determined. The extraction of gold from hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid solution with trioctylamine or trioctylmethylammonium chloride (or bromide) has also been investigated.     

Indirect determination of cyanide in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

An indirect method for determination of trace cyanide in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry is described. Cyanide forms a stable complex anion with Pd in alkaline solution. This complex anion can form an ion-association complex with tetra-alkylammonium ions which can be extracted into n-butyl alcohol with an efficiency higher than 90%. The extract can be analysed directly for palladium (and hence indirectly for cyanide) by flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The detection limit for cyanide by this method is 0.1 mug ml in the n-butyl alcohol extract. Beer's law is obeyed for 0.13-9 mug of CN(-) per ml of n-butyl alcohol. Several foreign ions do not interfere.     

Solvent extraction of lead(II) with N-cyclohexyl-N-nitrosohydroxylamine into methyl isobutyl ketone

The distribution equilibrium of the lead-cnha complex in the water-methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) system has been studied at 25 degrees . From graphical treatment of the equilibrium data, it was deduced that PbL(2) is the complex extracted. By use of the program LETAGROP-DISTR, values for the distribution and the stability constants of PbL(2) have been calculated: log K(DC) = 1.84 +/- 0.11; log beta(1) = 6.68 +/- 0.09 and log beta(2) = 10.28 +/- 0.09. On the basis of these results and those of previous studies, a method for determination of lead(II), copper(II) and cadmium(II) by atomic-absorption spectrometry, after extraction with cnha and 4-methylpyridine into MIBK, is proposed.     

Preconcentration of trace amounts of manganese from natural waters by means of a macroreticular poly(dithiocarbamate) resin

A chelating poly(dithiocarbamate) resin (PDTC) with macroreticular support is characterized as effective collector for traces of manganese from natural waters. Using small PDTC columns preconcentration of manganese can be achieved even at high flow-rates (5-6 ml/min) and sample volumes (1500 ml). Accordingly, PDTC resin is used for the preconcentration of manganese from water samples prior to its determination by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry. A series of ions abundant in natural waters do not interfere. The sensitivity and detection limit were 2.5 and 0.5 mug/l., respectively. The relative standard deviations of the results for a manganese concentration of 40-400 mug/l. are in the range 1.1-6.2%. In mineral and tap waters analysed, the manganese concentration range was between 2.9 and 30.8 mug/l.     

Determination of cobalt, nickel, lead, bismuth and indium in ores, soils and related materials by atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A method for determining approximately 0.5, mug/g or more of cobalt, nickel and lead and approximately 3 mug/g or more of bismuth and indium in ores, soils and related materials is described. After sample decomposition and dissolution of the salts in dilute hydrochloric-tartaric acid solution, iron(III) is reduced with ascorbic acid and the resultant iron(II) is complexed with ammonium fluoride. Cobalt, nickel, lead, bismuth and indium are subsequently separated from iron, aluminium, zinc and other matrix elements by a triple chloroform extraction of their xanthate complexes at pH 2.00 +/- 0.05. After the removal of chloroform by evaporation and the destruction of the xanthates with nitric and perchloric acids, the solution is evaporated to dryness and the individual elements are ultimately determined in a 20% v/v hydrochloric acid medium containing 1000 mug/ml potassium by atomic-absorption spectrometry with an air-acetylene flame. Co-extraction of arsenic and antimony is avoided by volatilizing them as the bromides during the decomposition step. Small amounts of co-extracted molybdenum, iron and copper do not interfere.     

Removal of iron interferences by solvent extraction for geochemical analysis by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Iron is a common interferent in the determination of many elements in geochemical samples. Two approaches for its removal have been taken. The first involves removal of iron by extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) from hydrochloric acid medium, leaving the analytes in the aqueous phase. The second consists of reduction of iron(III) to iron(II) by ascorbic acid to minimize its extraction into MIBK, so that the analytes may be isolated by extraction. Elements of interest can then be determined using the aqueous solution or the organic extract, as appropriate. Operating factors such as the concentration of hydrochloric acid, amounts of iron present, number of extractions, the presence or absence of a salting-out agent, and the optimum ratio of ascorbic acid to iron have been determined. These factors have general applications in geochemical analysis by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.     

Comparison of silver results for canadian reference ores and concentrates and zinc-processing products by acid decomposition, tribenzylamine/chloroform extraction and fire-assay combined with atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

The results obtained for silver in Canadian reference ores and concentrates and in zinc-processing products by three atomic-absorption spectrophotometric methods are compared. "Wet chemical" methods based on the decomposition of the sample with mixed acids yield more accurate results than those based on fire-assay collection techniques. A direct acid-decomposition method involving the determination of silver in a 20% v/v hydrochloric acid-1% v/v diethylenetriamine medium is recommended for the determination of approximately 10 mug g or higher levels of silver. A method based on chloroform extraction of the tribenzylamine-silver bromide ion-association complex from 0.08M potassium bromide-2M sulphuric acid is recommended for samples containing < 10 mug of silver per g.