A Polyoxometalate-Based Binder-Free Capacitive Deionization Electrode for Highly Efficient Sea Water Desalination

Capacitive deionization is a promising technique in sea water desalination. Compared with common electrodes, mixed capacitive-deionization electrodes exhibit better performance in sea water desalination because they integrate pseudocapacitance and electric double-layer capacitance in one system. Herein, a 3D binder-free mixed capacitive-deionization electrode was fabricated by direct electrodeposition of SiW₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ and polyaniline on a 3D exfoliated graphite carrier. In this electrode, SiW₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻/polyaniline composite particles with a size of about 100–120 nm are dispersed homogenously on the 3D exfoliated graphite carrier. Its specific capacitance reaches 352 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹. With increasing current from 1 to 20 A g⁻¹, the specific capacitance only decays by 32 %. When employed in sea water desalination, the performance of this mixed capacitive-deionization electrode is also excellent. At 1.2 V, the salt adsorption capacity of this mixed electrode reaches 23.1 mg g⁻¹ with a salt adsorption rate of 1.38 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹ in 500 mg L⁻¹ NaCl. The performance of this electrode is well retained after 30 cycles. The excellent sea water desalination performance originates from the synergistic effect between SiW₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ and polyaniline. This work has developed polyoxometalate as a new material for capacitive-deionization electrodes.     

Factors Affecting Selenium Atomization Efficiency in Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption

Abstract

The effect of graphite furnace surface treatment, and the addition of “matrix modifiers” such as nickel or lanthanum on the observed selenium atomization siqnal in electrotherval atomic absorption analysis has been investiqated. The results indicate that the removal of signal depression caused by the addition of metal solution to analyte solution is not simply a devolatilization of the selenium. The effect appears to be a modification of the graphite surface which leads to more efficient atom formation. The role of the surface was investigated monitoring the atomic absorption signal generated from graphite furnaces which were untreated, pyrolytic graphite-coated, zirconium-or tantalum-coated, and metal-coated followed by pyrolytic graphite coating. The dependence of the analyte signal on the concentration of added metal was investigated for these surfaces. The optimum results obtained were the metal-coated/pyrolytic graphite-coated cuvettes. These cuvettes showed reduced effect of “matrix modifier,” suggesting that the surface treatment can replace the “matrix modifer,” Surface chemistry consistent with the atomic absorption observations and surface analysis data is presented.     

Evaluation of electrodeposited tungsten chemical modifier for direct determination of chromium in urine by ETAAS

The direct determination of chromium in urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) using graphite tubes modified with tungsten is proposed. Modification of the graphite is made by tungsten electrodeposition over the whole surface atomizer followed by carbide formation by heating the tube inside its own furnace. For tungsten electrocoating, the graphite tube and a platinum electrode were connected to a power supply as cathode and anode, respectively, and immersed in a solution containing 2 mg of W in 0.1% v/v HNO₃. Then, 5 V was applied between the electrodes during 20 min for tungsten electrodeposition over the whole atomizer. A SpectrAA 220 Varian atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a deuterium background corrector was used throughout. Undiluted urine (20 μl) was delivered over the tungsten-treated tube and the chromium-integrated absorbance was measured after applying a suitable heating program with maximum pyrolysis at 1300 °C and atomization at 2500 °C. With electrodeposited tungsten modifier, the tube lifetime increased up to four times when compared to previous published methods for Cr determination in urine by ETAAS, reaching 800 firings. Method detection limit (3 S.D.) was 0.10 μg l⁻¹, based on 10 integrated absorbance measurements of a urine sample with low Cr concentration. Two reference materials of urines (SRM 2670) from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were analyzed for method validation. For additional validation, results obtained from eight human urine samples were also analyzed in a spectrometer with Zeeman effect background correction.     

Electrochemical behaviour of lanthanum fluoride in molten fluorides

The electrochemical behaviour of lanthanum fluoride dissolved in molten lithium fluoride and in eutectic mixture LiF-CaF₂ was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and laboratory electrolysis. The cyclic voltammetry experiments were carried out at 900°C and 800°C, respectively, in a graphite crucible (counter electrode). Several types of working electrodes (Mo, W, Ni and Cu) were used. Ni/Ni(II) was used as a reference electrode. Laboratory electrolysis was carried out in the system LiF-CaF₂-LaF₃ at 800°C in galvanostatic (j _c = −0.21 A cm⁻²) and potentiostatic (E = 0.87 V) regimes. In both cases, nickel served as the cathode and graphite as the anode. It was found that no new separate reduction peak occurred on the molybdenum or tungsten electrodes in the investigated systems. When copper or nickel electrodes were used, new peaks corresponding to the reduction of lanthanum(III) to lanthanum metal appeared. This can be explained by the formation of alloys or intermetallic compounds of lanthanum with copper or nickel. X-ray microanalysis showed that lanthanum was electrodeposited together with calcium under formation of intermetallic compounds with the electrode materials in the galvanostatic regime. In the potentiostatic regime, mainly lanthanum was deposited, which enabled its separation.     

Effects of lanthanum on the properties of bifunctional Ni/HY catalyst

A series of lanthanum modified-Ni/HY bifunctional catalysts for n-octane hydroconversion were prepared by ion-exchange method, and the influence of lanthanum contents on the activity and the selectivity was investigated. Py-FTIR and CO-DRIFTS results indicated that the addition of lanthanum could adjust the acidity and the metal state over Ni/HY catalyst, and consequently change the ratio of metal to acid functions. It was found that the best catalytic performance at the lanthanum exchange of ca. 8 wt.% was due to the suitable metal/acid ratio.     

Suppression of interferences in the determination of lead in natural and drinking waters by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The problem of matrix interference encountered in the determination of lead in natural and drinking waters by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is examined by looking at the individual effects of various constituent salts (NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, Na₂SO₄, KH₂PO₄ and Mg(NO₃)₂), of which MgCl₂ and Na₂SO₄ interfered most severely. The use of the L'vov platform decreased the sulphate interference, but was not successful in removing the other interferences. The mixture of 0.05% (w/v) lanthanum (as LaCl₃) and 1% (v/v) nitric acid previously proposed for wall atomisation was found to be effective in controlling the interferences. Nitric acid alone removed almost completely the effects of MgCl₂ and CaCl₂, but had little effect on the interference of sulphate, which required the addition of lanthanum for suppression. The removal of interferences in real water samples by the lanthanum/nitric acid mixture is demonstrated by comparison of results obtained by this approach with those obtained by atomic fluorescence spectrometry and by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by evaporation.     

Feasibility of eliminating interferences in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using analyte transfer to the permanently modified graphite tube surface

A procedure is proposed to avoid spectral and/or non-spectral interferences in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) by transferring the analyte during the pyrolysis stage from a solid sampling platform to the graphite tube wall that has been coated with a permanent modifier, e.g. by electrodeposition of a platinum-group metal. The direct determination of mercury in solid coal samples was chosen as a model to investigate the feasibility of this idea. The graphite tube surface was coated with palladium and the analyte was transferred from the solid sampling platform to the tube wall at a temperature of 500±50 °C. A characteristic mass of m₀=64 pg Hg was obtained for an atomization temperature of 1300 °C, proposing a quantitative transfer of the analyte to the tube wall. Calibration against aqueous mercury standards was not feasible as this element was lost in part already during the drying stage and could not be trapped quantitatively on the modified graphite tube surface. However, the results for all except one of the coal reference materials were within the 95% confidence interval of the certificate when the slope of a correlation curve between the integrated absorbance, normalized for 1 mg of sample, and the certified value for mercury was used for calibration. A detection limit of 0.025–0.05 μg g⁻¹ Hg in coal, calculated from three times the standard deviation of the investigated coal samples, could be obtained with the proposed method. The spectral interference due to excessive background absorption in the direct determination of mercury in coal could be eliminated completely. It is expected that this analyte transfer can be used in a similar way to eliminate other spectral and/or non-spectral interferences in the GF AAS determination of other volatile analytes.     

Oxidation of SO2 to sulfate in sea salt aerosols

Summary In laboratory-scale experiments sea salt particles are exposed to SO₂ at a temperature of 22°C and relative humidities of 40, 60 and 80%; the SO₂ gas concentration is fixed to 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm (v), respectively. In further test series NO₂ is added to the gas phase. As kinetic data the capacity values of the sea salt particles (mg formed sulfate/g dry aerosol) are determined as function of time and from this the reaction rates (mg formed sulfate/g dry aerosol and minute) are calculated in dependence of the yield. The relative humidity (r.h.) has proved to be a decisive reaction parameter. For example, the rate (at a reaction time of one hour) increases at a SO₂ concentration of 0.5 ppm (v) from 0.01 to approx. 0.1 mg SO ₄ ^2– /g·min, if the r.h. will increase from 40 to 80%. However, the gas concentration has only an importance at high humidities (where the reaction takes place in droplets) for the sulfate formation in sea salt aerosols. If the SO₂ concentration is reduced from 1.0 to 0.2 ppm (v) at a r.h. of 80%, the rate will be decreased from 0.2 to about 0.07 mg SO ₄ ^2– /g·min; however, at a r.h. of 60% from 0.075 to 0.04 mg SO ₄ ^2– /g·min. As an increased sulfate formation but no nitrate formation can be detected when NO₂ is added to the gas phase, it can be assumed that SO₂ is oxidized in the electrolyte layer around the sea salt particles whereas NO₂ is reduced. If NO₂ (SO₂:NO₂=1:1) is added to the gas phase, the rate — for example at a r.h. of 40% — will be increased from 0.01 to 0.24 mg SO ₄ ^2– /g·min.     

Determination of Beryllium in Natural Waters Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry With Tantalum-Coated Graphite Tube

Abstract

In the present paper a method for direct determination of beryllium in natural waters, especially in surface waters, using atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace is described. Two procedures are compared, using an ordinary graphite tube and matrix modifier Mg(NO₃)₂, and using a tantalum coated tube without any modifier added. The detection limit (3[sgrave]) of the proposed method using the tantalum-coated tube is proved to be 0.02 μgBe/1. With the developed method the Be content in natural water samples collected from highly polluted and reference regions of Bohemia were determined. A certified reference material (IAEA/W-4) was also analysed to prove the accuracy of proposed method.     

Evaluation and application of bismuth as an internal standard for the determination of lead in wines by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of Pb in wines by simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) using a transversely heated graphite atomizer, Zeeman-effect background corrector and internal standardization is proposed. Bismuth was used as an internal standard and Pd(NO3)2 plus Mg(NO3)2 as chemical modifier to stabilize both the analyte and the internal standard. The implementation of two pyrolysis steps avoided any build-up of carbonaceous residues on the graphite platform. All diluted samples (1 + 1 v/v) in 0.2% v/v HNO3 and reference solutions (5.0-50 microg l(-1) Pb in 0.2% v/v HNO3) were spiked with 25 microg l(-1) Bi. For a 20 microl aliquot dispensed into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r = 0.9997) was obtained between the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal and the analyte concentration of the reference solutions. The electrothermal behaviour of Pb and Bi in red, white and rosé wines were compared. In addition, absorbance variations due to changes in experimental conditions, such as atomizer temperature, integration time, injected sample volume, radiation beam intensity, graphite tube surface, dilution and sample composition, were minimized by using Bi as internal standard. Relative standard deviations of measurements based on integrated absorbance varied from 0.1 to 3.4% and from 0.5 to 7.3% (n = 12) with and without internal standard correction, respectively. Good recoveries (91-104%) for Pb spikes were obtained. The characteristic mass was 45 pg Pb and the limit of detection based on integrated absorbance was 0.9 microg l(-1) Pb. Internal standardization increased the lifetime of the tube by 25%. Direct determinations of Pb in wines with and without internal standardization approaches were in agreement at the 95% confidence level. The repeatability and the tube lifetime were improved when using Bi as internal standard. The improvement in accuracy using an internal standard was only observed when the analytical results were affected by errors.     

Slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry: determination of trace metals in mineral coal

A procedure for lead, cadmium and copper determination in coal samples based on slurry sampling using an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a transversely heated graphite tube atomizer is proposed. The slurries were prepared by weighing the samples directly into autosampler cups (5-30 mg) and adding a 1.5 ml aliquot of a diluent mixture of 5% v/v HNO(3), 0.05% Triton X-100 and 10% ethanol. The slurry was homogenized by manual stirring before measurement. Slurry homogenization using ultrasonic agitation was also investigated for comparison. The effect of particle size and the use of different diluent compositions on the slurry preparation were investigated. The temperature programmes were optimized on the basis of pyrolysis and atomization curves. Absorbance characteristics with and without the addition of a palladium-magnesium modifier were compared. The use of 0.05% m/v Pd and 0.03% m/v Mg was found satisfactory for stabilizing Cd and Pb. The calibration was performed with aqueous standards. In addition, a conventional acid digestion procedure was applied to verify the efficiency of the slurry sampling. Better recoveries of the analytes were obtained when the particle size was reduced to <37 mum. Several certified coal reference materials (BCR Nos. 40, 180, and 181) were analyzed, and good agreement was obtained between the results from the proposed slurry sampling method and the certificate values.     

Iridium Modifier for Determination of Selenium by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

ABSTRACT

The behaviour of thermally reduced or electrodeposited iridium modifier in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) for the determination of selenium was investigated. The performance of modification for standard solution of selenium as well as in the presence of chloride containing matrix (e.g. sea water) was examined. It was found that the graphite material plays a significant role in the determination of volatile elements by the formation of graphite intercalation compounds. Those compounds are responsible for the long-term performance of stabilisation of selenium in chloride containing solutions.     

Determination of Rhodium in Biological Materials by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Tungsten Tube Atomizer

Abstract

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) of rhodium with a tungsten tube atomizer has been investigated under optimum conditions (atomization temperature; 2230 C, purge gas; Ar 480 ml min^?1 + H₂ 20 ml min^?1, and pyrolysis temperature; 590 C). The absolute characteristic mass (the mass of element giving 0.0044 abs.) of rhodium by the atomizer was 86.5 pg and the detection limit was 16.5 ng ml^?1 (3S/N). The interferences caused by large amounts of interferents were evaluated. Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Pb and Zn severely interfered in the AA signal of rhodium. Ammonium phosphate, ascorbic acid, palladium nitrate, copper nitrate, lanthanum nitrate, thiocyanate and thiourea, well known as matrix modifiers were tested to eliminate the severe interferences. However, by the addition of these compounds, the rhodium signal was not recovered. The standard addition method was adapted for the determination of rhodium in biological materials. The recovery of spiked-rhodium in biological materials was in the range of 97.4 to 107%.     

Novel Sorbent Extraction Technique Using a Chelating Agent Impregnated Porous PTFE Filter Tube: Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) with Bis(2‐Ethyl‐Hexyl)Hydrogen Phosphate (HDEHP) Loaded Porous PTFE Filter Tube Prior to Determination by ICP‐MS

Abstract

Sorbent extraction and elution of rare earth elements (REEs) by using bis(2‐ethyl‐hexyl)hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) impregnated porous PTFE filter tube were studied. A 100 ng amount of each REEs was quantitatively extracted by filtering 1000 mL of matrix‐free solution under pH 2.0–3.2. For a synthetic seawater sample, extractability of lighter REEs (La–Sm) was lowered; optimum pH range to simultaneously extract all REEs was shifted to 2.9–3.2, and limit of sample volume for quantitative extraction was decreased to 100 mL for La–Sm [although heavier REEs (Eu–Lu) were quantitatively extracted from 1000 mL]. Extracted REEs were quantitatively eluted by filtering through 5 mL of 10 mol/L^?1 hydrochloric acid to the tube. Hence, maximum preconcentration factors were of 200‐ and 20‐fold for Nd–Lu and La–Sm, respectively. Total recovery of 0.5–10 ng of REEs spiked to 300 mL of natural sea salt solution was tested; quantitative recovery (95.9% for Gd–102% for Eu) were obtained for all REEs except La (54.9%). The REEs in the natural sea salt solution were also determined by ICP‐MS after preconcentration with the present method [RSD=16% (La)–1.1% (Yb), n=3].     

Effect of inorganic salt on partition of high‐polarity parishins in two‐phase solvent systems and separation by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography from Gastrodia elata Blume

Parishins are high‐polarity and major bioactive constituents in Gastrodia elata Blume. In this study, the effect of several inorganic salts on the partition of parishins in two‐phase solvent systems was investigated. Adding ammonium sulfate, which has a higher solubility in water, was found to significantly promote the partition of parishins in the upper organic polar solvents. Based on the results, a two‐phase solvent system composed of butyl alcohol/acetonitrile/near‐saturated ammonium sulfate solution/water (1.5:0.5:1.2:1, v/v/v/v) was used for the purification of parishins by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. Fractions obtained from high‐speed counter‐current chromatography were subjected to semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography to remove salt and impurities. As a result, parishin E (6.0 mg), parishin B (7.8 mg), parishin C (3.2 mg), gastrodin (15.3 mg), and parishin A (7.3 mg) were isolated from water extract of Gastrodia elata Blume (400 mg). These results demonstrated that adding inorganic salt that has high solubility in water to the two‐phase solvent system in high‐speed counter‐current chromatography was a suitable approach for the purification of high‐polarity compounds.     

The Determination Of Thallium In Human Hair By Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Abstract

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric procedure is des-scribed for the rapid determination of thallium in human hair. Samples of 500 μg are dissolved in nitric acid and treated with hydrogen peroxide. Aliquots of 10 μL are then analyzed using electrothermal atomization in a graphite tube furnace. The characteristic concentration for the method is 1 mg Tl kg^?1 which is adequate for forensic investigation. The relative standard deviation for a series of signals from a hair sample spiked to contain 32 mg Tl^?1 kg was 3 per cent.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Copper(II) as the Azide Complexes,in the Presence of Iron(III) Cations

Abstract

A method for the spectrophotometrio determination of copper(II), in the presence of iron(III) cations (excess), was stablished. The masking of iron is made with sodium fluoride salt in 50 % (v/v) water/acetone medium. In the recommended conditions, absorbances for cupric complexes are measured at 435 nm where molar absorptivity is 6.00 × 10³ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1.

The stable ayetern obeys Beer's law and is suitable for the copper determination in concentration range from 2.0 to 9.0 mg 1^?l. The iron(III) ion interference (until ca. 600 mg 1^?l) can be completely suppressed. The influence of diverse ions and several others factore were studied.

The results show that copper(II) can be accurately determined by azide apectrophotometric method, if the samples were suitablely treated by the recommended procedure.     

Slurry sampling of sediments and coals for the determination of Sn by HG-GF AAS with retention in the graphite tube treated with Th or W as permanent modifiers

A method for the determination of Sn in slurry samples of sediment and coal by hydride generation graphite furnace electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-GF AAS) is proposed. The slurries were prepared by mixing the ground sample (particle size 50 m) with 2.0 mol L^–1 HCl for the sediment samples or with 2.0 mol L^–1 HCl+1.0% v/v HF in a saturated boric acid medium for the coal samples. The slurry was placed in an ultrasonic bath for 30 min, before and after standing for 24 h, with occasional manual stirring. The graphite tube was treated with 0.5 mg of Th or W as a permanent modifier. Sn determination was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry at the optimized retention temperatures of 450 and 300°C for Th and W treatment, respectively. With this coupling, kinetic interference in the formation of the hydrides is avoided, and excellent detection limits can be obtained by using peak height. For the chemical vapor generation device, an optimized volume of 2 mL of sample slurry and an optimized NaBH₄ concentration of 5% m/v were employed. The vapor produced was transported and retained on the graphite tube surface, which was further heated for Sn atomization. The accuracy of the method was verified by analyzing five certified sediments and three coals. By using the external calibration against aqueous standard solutions, the results obtained were in agreement with the certified values only for the sediment samples. For the coal samples, an addition calibration curve, obtained for one certified coal, was necessary to achieve accurate results. The obtained limits of detection were 0.03 g g^–1 for sediment and 0.09 g g^–1 for coal with Th as permanent modifier. The relative standard deviations were lower than 15%, demonstrating an adequate precision for slurry analysis. Sediment and coal samples from Santa Catarina, Brazil, were also analyzed.     

Preconcentration of Trace Elements in Sea Water with 8-Hydroxyquinoline Immobilized Polyacrylonitrile Hollow Fiber Membrane for Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

8-Hydroxyquinoline immobilized on polyacrylonitrile hollow fiber membrane was synthesized and used for the preconcentration of cadmium, lead, copper, mangenese, bismuth, indium, cobalt, beryllium and silver in sea water prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The optimum experimental conditions such as pH, sample flow rate and volume of eluents were investigated. The concentration factor of at least 300 for analytes of interest in sea water and separation of matrix components can be achieved. The recommended method has been applied for the determination of trace elements in coastal sea water. The results indicated that the recovery ranged from 91% to 107%, and the relative standard deviations were found to be less than 5% for trace elements at ng/L level.     

Use of the internal standardization for difficult sampling by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

This work shows the potentiality of As as internal standard to compensate errors from sampling of sparkling drinking water samples in the determination of selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The mixture Pd(NO₃)₂/Mg(NO₃)₂ was used as chemical modifier. All samples and reference solutions were automatically spiked with 500 μg l⁻¹ As and 0.2% (v/v) HNO₃ by the autosampler, eliminating the need for manual dilutions. For 10 μl dispensed sample into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r=0.9996) was obtained between the ratio of analyte absorbance by the internal standard absorbance and the analyte concentrations. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of measurements varied from 0.05 to 2% and from 1.9 to 5% (n=12) with and without internal standardization, respectively. The limit of detection (LD) based on integrated absorbance was 3.0 μg l⁻¹ Se. Recoveries in the 94-109% range for Se spiked samples were obtained. Internal standardization (IS) improved the repeatability of measurements and increased the lifetime of the graphite tube in ca. 15%.