Use of iridium plus rhodium as permanent modifier to determine As, Cd and Pb in acids and ethanol by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The most severe interferences in atomic absorption spectrometry are caused by the presence of anions when they are in different concentrations in the samples and in the calibration solutions. The analyte addition technique or matrix matching calibration can be employed to minimize or compensate the non-spectral interferences, but they are time consuming or difficult to be carried out. The use of chemical modifiers usually allows higher pyrolysis temperatures and consequently the removal of components of the sample matrix, equalizing the analyte signal in the sample and in the calibration solution. In this work, a mixture of Ir and Rh is proposed as permanent modifier to determine As, Cd and Pb in diluted hydrochloric, sulfuric and phosphoric acids and in ethanol and methanol by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) with calibration against 1% v/v nitric acid aqueous solutions. The performance of the proposed permanent modifier was compared to that of Pd plus Mg nitrates in solution. Better recoveries, low background levels and faster analysis were obtained with the permanent modifier. The permanent modifier was also successfully employed for the determination of As, Cd and Pb in different concentrations of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. For the phosphoric acid, the proposed modifier was only efficient for acid concentrations up to 2% v/v for As and up to 5% v/v for Cd and Pb. The precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation (n=3), was lower than 10%, for all samples, including ethanol and methanol.     

Extraction of oxalic acid from solutions of electrolyte mixture

Extraction of oxalic acid with tributyl phosphate and triisoamyl phosphate from solutions of its mixtures with nitric, phosphoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acid and with ammonium nitrate and chloride was studied. In the extractability series, oxalic acid occupies the position between nitric and phosphoric acids, with sulfuric and hydrochloric acids acting as strong salting-out agents. Nitric acid salts drastically decrease the distribution ratios of oxalic acid.     

Determination of uranium in plutonium by differential linear sweep oscillographic polarography

The polarographic behavior of uranium in hydroxylamine hydrochloride was investigated by differential oscillographic polarography. A procedure is presented for the determination of uranium in plutonium for concentrations of uranium greater than 10 p.p.m. Analyses of solutions containing 22 common impurities found in plutonium metal revealed that antimony, copper, and titanium cause significant interference. A reversible peak corresponding to a one-electron reduction was obtained with a peak potential of -0.167 V vs. Hg pool electrode. The diffusion coefficient is 0.51·10^-5 cm²/sec and the diffusion current constant is 1.59 with an average relative standard deviation of 2.28%. The peak current of uranium can be affected by hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric, and sulfuric acids, depending on the acid concentration.     

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide: : A selective organic extractant

Tri-n-octylphosphine sulfide (TOPS) has been investigated as the stationary phase in reversed-phase partition paper Chromatographie separations using nitric or hydrochloric acids as the mobile phase. TOPS has also been studied as an extractant for metal ions. Silver, mercury (II), and palladium (II) were found to have RF values of zero when nitric acid was used as the mobile phase. These same ions were also selectively extracted from aqueous nitric acid solutions. Gold(III), mercury(II), palladium (II), and platinum (IV) were found to have RF values of zero when hydrochloric acid was used as the mobile phase. However, only gold(III) and mercury(II) were extracted from aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions in liquid-liquid extraction systems. Several separations were successfully performed from 1 M nitric acid.     

4-(5-Nonyl)pyridine as an extractant for cobalt thiocyanate complexes from mineral acid solutions

The partition behaviour of cobalt into 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine (NPy) in benzene from aqueous hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acid media containing variable amounts of potassium thiocyanate is described. Cobalt is quantitatively extracted by NPy from 0.1–1M KSCN solutions at 0.01 M concentration of the mineral acids. The extraction mechanism and the possible compositions of the extracted species are discussed. The effects of foreign salts on the extraction of cobalt from three mineral acid solutions are reported. Several elements including those which are of some interest in connection with the separation of cobalt were tested for extraction from 0.01 M solutions of mineral acids 0.3 M with respect to KSCN and their factors for separation from cobalt were estimated.     

Determination of tin in titanium alloys

Tin-titanium alloys are becoming increasingly important; consequently a good method is needed for the determination of tin in this type of material. In this paper an accurate iodometric procedure is proposed for the determination. The sample is dissolved in sulfuric acid and the titanium oxidized with potassium permanganate. Tartaric acid is added and the tin precipitated with hydrogen, sulfide. The sulfide precipitate is dissolved in a mixture of sulfuric, perchloric and nitric acids and the solution evaporated to fumes of sulfuric acid. Water and hydrochloric acid are added, and the tin is reduced with lead and antimony trichloride and titrated with iodine. A study was made of the interfering elements that might be found in titanium alloys. The effect of antimony trichloride in reducing interference from copper was investigated. The method is recommended for titanium alloys containing 0.05 to 5.0 per cent. tin.     

Storage and stability of mercury and methylmercury in sea water

The long-term storage behavior of mercury and methylmercury at ng 1^?1 levels in sea water was studied at pH 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0, and with 2% (v/v) hydrochloric or nitric acid added. Partial complexation and disappearance of mercury and methylmercury were observed; some of the lost mercury became detectable (by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) after prolonged storage.     

Combined effects of inorganic acids in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

The acid interferences in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP OES) were studied in a multivariate way, considering the simultaneous presence of four mineral acids (hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric and perchloric acid) with their concentrations ranging from 5 to 80% (w/w). A low power ICP OES was used, after optimization of operating parameters in order to achieve both plasma robustness and maximum signal to background ratios, favorable for trace element determinations in real samples. In order to investigate the interference mechanism, the combined effects of mineral acids on several parameters (solvent transport rate, analyte transport rate, excitation temperature, electron number density and magnesium ionic to atomic line intensity ratio) were evaluated and discussed. It was found that the combined effects of inorganic acids in ICP OES are, in general terms, more complex than the simple addition of the single effects. The more relevant interactions are between hydrochloric and nitric acids and those with sulfuric acid. Owing to these interactions, the resulting effects on the analytical signals are lower than the expected ones. The extent of any interaction depend on the nature of the interference. For the physical effects which are related with a change in the viscosity of the solution, an attenuation of the acid effect due to the presence of another acid at high concentration was evident. On the contrary, for the interferences related with a change in the plasma excitation conditions, the combined effects are higher than the addition of the single ones.     

Determination of Silicon in Lubricant Oil by High-Resolution Continuum Source Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Using Least-Square Background Correction and Internal Standardization

The least-squares background correction (LSBC) and internal standardization procedures were combined to eliminate spectral interferences caused by the CS molecular band (251.602 nm) and transport effects for determining Si in sulfuric acid digests of lubricant oil by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Aluminum, Ba, Ti, V, and W were tested as internal standard (IS) candidates, and W provided the best results. For absorbance measurements of solutions containing 0.5–5.0 mg L^?1 Si in the presence of 25 mg L^?1 W (at the wavelength integrated absorbance equivalent to 3 pixels), the correlation coefficient for the ratio of absorbance of Si to absorbance of W vs. analyte concentration was 0.9978. Fluctuations in analytical signals due to variations in sulfuric acid concentrations or acetylene/nitrous oxide flow-rate ratios were corrected by using this calibration plot. Relative standard deviations varied from 1.9 to 7.2% and 2.1 to 5.4% (n = 12) with and without LSBC/IS, respectively. Recoveries for samples spiked with 2.0 mg L^?1 Si in 5.0% (v/v) sulfuric acid were within the 72.5–82.5% and 94.0–99.0% ranges without correction and by LSBC associated with internal standardization procedure, respectively. Accuracy of the proposed method was checked for the determination of Si in commercial lubricant oils and results obtained with internal standardization were better than those without correction.     

An evaluation of analytical techniques for determination of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury in food-packaging materials

Closed microwave digestion and a high-pressure asher have been evaluated for wet-oxidation and extraction of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury from a range of typical packaging materials used for food products. For the high-pressure asher a combination of nitric and sulfuric acids was efficient for destruction of a range of packaging materials; for polystyrene, however, nitric acid alone was more efficient. For microwave digestion, a reagent containing nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide was used for all materials except polystyrene. Use of the high-pressure asher resulted in the highest recoveries of spiked lead (median 92%), cadmium (median 92%), chromium (median 97%), and mercury (median 83%). All samples were spiked before digestion with 40 microg L(-1) Cd, Cr, and Pb and 8 microg L(-1) Hg in solution. The use of indium as internal standard improved the accuracy of results from both ICP-MS and ICP-AES. Average recovery of the four elements from spiked packaging materials was 92 +/- 14% by ICP-MS and 87 +/- 15% (except for mercury) by ICP-AES. For mercury analysis by CVAAS, use of tin(II) chloride as reducing agent resulted in considerably better accuracy than use of sodium borohydride reagent.     

An evaluation of analytical techniques for determination of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury in food-packaging materials

Closed microwave digestion and a high-pressure asher have been evaluated for wet-oxidation and extraction of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury from a range of typical packaging materials used for food products. For the high-pressure asher a combination of nitric and sulfuric acids was efficient for destruction of a range of packaging materials; for polystyrene, however, nitric acid alone was more efficient. For microwave digestion, a reagent containing nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide was used for all materials except polystyrene. Use of the high-pressure asher resulted in the highest recoveries of spiked lead (median 92%), cadmium (median 92%), chromium (median 97%), and mercury (median 83%). All samples were spiked before digestion with 40 μg L^–1 Cd, Cr, and Pb and 8 μg L^–1 Hg in solution. The use of indium as internal standard improved the accuracy of results from both ICP–MS and ICP–AES. Average recovery of the four elements from spiked packaging materials was 92 ± 14% by ICP–MS and 87 ± 15% (except for mercury) by ICP– AES. For mercury analysis by CVAAS, use of tin(II) chloride as reducing agent resulted in considerably better accuracy than use of sodium borohydride reagent.     

Determination de l'etain dans les sediments et les boues de stations d'epuration par spectrometrie d'absorption atomique avec generation d'hydruresDetermination of tin in sediments and sewage sludges by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation.

The conditions for the determination of tin in sediments and sewage sludges by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydride generation are evaluated. Hydride generation is achieved in a 0.4 M nitric acid/0.2 tartaric acid solution. The effects of hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids are discussed. Matrix effect and interferences from other trace elements are studied. Seven sample decomposition procedures are compared. Refluxing with a (1 + 3) niric acid/hydrochloric acid mixture was the preferred procedure for decomposing such samples.     

Crystallization and relative stabilities of Polymorphs of Niobium(V) Oxide under hydrothermal conditions

The TT-, T-, B-, P-, and poorly ordered M-forms of niobium(V) oxide were crystallized hydrothermally by treating niobic acid with pure water and acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid at 250–750°C and 15–100MPa. Triniobium chloride heptaoxide was hydrolyzed in pure water and acids solutions at 250–500°C and 15–98MPa, producing the P-, R-, and B-forms. The formation of the above polymorphs involved either dissolution-precipitation or the solid-phase rearrangement of the structures of amorphous solids. The B-form was shown to be the most stable phase below 760°C by an isothermal-conversion method. The relative stabilities of seven polymorphs of niobium(V) oxide were estimated by observing the rates of conversion of metastable forms into the B-forms in 1.2 mol/dm³ hydrochloric acid.     

Extraction of mercury by inert solvents from pure and mixed acids

The extraction of mercury by inert solvents has been investigated as a function of the hydrochloric and sulfuric acid concentration in the aqueous phase. It was found that the extraction of mercury with kerosene is adequate at low hydrochloric acid concentrations but decreases with the increasing acid concentration. In the case of sulfuric acid a maximum and/or a minimum are noticed. The presence of trace halides in the aqueous phase changes the shape of the relation between the distribution of mercury and the sulfuric acid concentration in the aqueous phase. The extraction of mercury by neutral, anion and cation exchange reagents was also investigated.     

Improved tribenzylamine-silver bromide extraction/atomic-absorption spectrophotometric method for the determination of silver in ores, related materials and zinc process solutions

An improved tribenzylamine extraction/atomic-absorption method for the determination of silver in ores, related materials and zinc process solutions is described. The method, which involves the separation of silver by a single methyl isobutyl ketone extraction of the tribenzylamine-silver bromide ion-association complex from ~ 0.5-2M sulphuric acid-0.14M potassium bromide, is simpler and more rapid than a previous method based on a triple chloroform extraction of the complex. Silver is stripped with 12M hydrochloric acid containing 1% thiourea as a complexing agent. Thiourea is destroyed with nitric and perchloric acids and silver is ultimately determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry in an air-acetylene flame, at 328.1 nm, in a 10% v v hydrochloric acid-1% v v diethylenetriamine medium. Cadmium and bismuth are partly co-extracted but do not interfere. Results obtained by this method are compared with those obtained previously by the tribenzylamine/chloroform extraction method and with those obtained by a direct acid-decomposition/atomic-absorption method.     

Micropore to macropore structure-designed silicas with regulated condensation of silicic acid nanoparticles

A new preparation method for porous silica particles was developed using activated silica sols which are called nano-silica solutions in this paper. Several kinds of organic and inorganic acids are employed to neutralize diluted sodium silicate solutions to form the nano-silica solutions: formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, dl-malic acid, citric acid, and tricarballylic acid as carboxylic acids, and sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid as inorganic acids. The effect of salts in the nano-silica solution is also studied. The products were investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscope, an X-ray diffractometer, the nitrogen adsorption technique, and a mercury porosimeter. Microporous silicas were produced when carboxylic acids were applied; the formation of micropores was influenced by the pH of the nano-silica solutions and molecular sizes of the carboxylic acids. Addition of a salt in a citric acid solution increased the mesopore volume. Macropores were formed when inorganic acids including salts were applied; the salt nanoparticles which were crystallized in silica spheres acted as templates. The anion types and salt concentrations in the nano-silica solutions affected the aggregation condition of silica nanoparticles, following the Schulze-Hardy rule.     

Determination of Hydrofluoric Acid in Mixed Acids with an Acid Concentration Meter

Abstract

A commercial acid concentration meter containing an N-type silicon anode and stainless cathode has been used to selectively measure hydrofluoric acid in mixtures containing nitric, phosphoric and sulfuric acids. At very high weight ratios of acid to HF (> 10:1) a suppression in HF response was noted for all acids examined. At lower ratios or higher HF values only nitric acid influences HF response with a sensitizing or catalytic effect not appreciably dependent on HNO, concentration.     

进口铜精矿中砷和汞的快速测定

试料经盐酸、硝酸溶解,添加硫脲和抗坏血酸预还原砷,以2%盐酸为载流,1%硼氢化钠和0.5%氢氧化钾溶液为还原剂,在氢化物发生器中,砷与硼氢化钠、盐酸反应生成砷化氢,汞则成为汞蒸气,用氩气导入石英炉原子化器中原子化,以空心阴极灯为激发光源,于原子荧光光谱仪上测量砷和汞的荧光强度。砷的标准偏差为0.0096%;汞的标准偏差为0.00015%,结果准确度较好。方法前处理快速,试剂消耗少,过程简单。     

Spectrophotometric determination of platinum in glass after extraction with polyurethane foam

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for determination of trace amounts of platinum in glass. The method is based on the extraction of platinum(II) from 1M hydrochloric acid containing 0.2M stannous chloride and 4 x 10(-4)M dithizone onto polyurethane foam, elution with acetone (containing 3% v/v concentrated hydrochloric acid) and measurement of the absorbance of the eluate at 530 nm. Beer's law is obeyed up to 10.0 microg/ml Pt. The minimum platinum level in the eluate that can be determined by this method is 0.1 microg/ml.     

Adsorption Peculiarities of Carbon Monoxide on Iridium Electrodeposits

The transients of current and open-circuit potential observed at CO adsorption on Ir/Pt electrodes in solutions of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids are shown to adequately agree with those theoretically expected. From voltammetric curves of electrooxidation of chemisorbed CO, the values of its adsorption are estimated by making a proper double-layer correction. It is concluded that CO is preferentially adsorbed in the bridge form. During CO adsorption from sulfuric acid solutions on an electrode with a preliminarily accumulated monolayer of copper adatoms (Cu_ad), small negative current are observed and Cu_ad are displaced by 50%. To explain these results, it is assumed that CO is reduced by copper adatoms.