Indirect determination of iodate by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

An indirect method for determination of trace iodate in certain high-purity chemicals by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is described. Iodate forms a stable ion-association complex [Hg(dipy)(2)](IO(3))(2) in neutral medium, which can be extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone with 99% efficiency. The extract can be analysed for mercury (and hence indirectly for iodate) by flameless AAS. The limit of detection for iodate by this method is 7.5 ng. Apparent recoveries of 92-112% have been obtained for spikes of 0.25-0.70 mug of iodate.     

Spectrophotometric determination of micro amounts of cadmium in waste water with cadion and triton X-100

A spectrophotometric method for determination of micro amounts of cadmium in waste water with Cadion and Triton X-100 is described. The interference of foreign ions can be eliminated by masking with an ascorbic acid-Rochelle salt-potassium cyanide-potassium fluoride mixture. After demasking with formalin, cadmium is determined directly in aqueous solution without separation. Beer's law is obeyed for 0-8 mug of Cd in 25 ml of solution. The method is more sensitive than the dithizone method, its apparent molar absorptivity at 480 nm being 1.19 x 10(5) 1. mole(-1). cm(-1). Results obtained by using the proposed method on waste water samples agree well with those obtained by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.     

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 .     

Spectrophotometric determination of cyanide with organic disulphides

The reaction of cyanide ion with the disulphides 2,2'-dithiodipyridine, 4,4'-dithiodipyridine, 2,2'-dithiodipyrimidine, and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to displace an absorbing thiol anion has been evaluated for the spectrophotometric determination of cyanide. Reaction is somewhat slow and is applicable to cyanide determination in the range 0.2-5.0 mug ml . By variation of reactant ratios and pH the concentration range can be increased to 50 mug ml . The reaction is faster when cyanide is present at a higher concentration than the disulphide.     

Simultaneous third-derivative spectrophotometric determination of copper and nickel in iron alloys and aluminium alloy

A method is proposed for the simultaneous determination of copper and nickel by third-derivative spectrophotometry based on the absorption spectra of their complexes with cyanide ion in the ultraviolet range. The method allows the determination of 0.55-5.8 mug/ml of copper and 0.55-6.8 mug/ml of nickel. The relative standard deviation for 11 determinations of 1.5 mul/ml of copper and nickel were 0.78 and 0.72%, respectively. The detection limits were 0.10,mug/ml for nickel and 0.13 mug/ml for copper. The method has been applied to direct determination of copper and nickel in iron alloys and an aluminium alloy without any separation.     

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.     

Polarographic determination of cyanide as contaminant in pralidoxime mesylate formulations

A method for the polarographic determination of cyanide as contaminant in pralidoxime mesylate (PM) formulations was developed. The volatile cyanide formed in the formulations was stabilized as tetracyanonickelate (TCN) anion complex after reaction with ammoniacal Ni(II) solution. The stable TCN anion complex (K(stb)=10(31)) was determined by anodic stripping voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The polarographic signal was proportional to the cyanide concentration and the high concentration of PM did not interfere. The linear range of calibration was from 1.2 to 16 mug cyanide with r=0.998. The RSD was 1.3% (n=5) for 2.4 mug cyanide and a detection limit of 0.8 mug cyanide was calculated. The proposed method is adequate as a quality control of PM formulations.     

Rapid determination of zinc and iron in foods by flow-injection analysis with flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry and slurry nebulization

A rapid method of determining zinc and iron in food by flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with slurry nebulization into an air-acetylene flame has been developed. A V-groove, clog-free Babington-type nebulizer, coupled to a single-line flow-injection analysis (FIA) system, was employed to introduce the slurry into the spray chamber. Under the FIA conditions described, an injection frequency of 120/hr is possible, with negligible carry-over and memory effects. The calibration graphs were obtained by using various concentrations (up to 0.1 g/ml) of white bean homogenate as standards, rather than solutions. The method has been applied to various kinds of foods, including grains, vegetables, fruits and sausage. Homogenization of semi-prepared samples to form slurries took only 4 min. Relative deviations between results by the slurry and solution methods for both elements averaged 2-3%. Detection limits by the slurry method were 0.3 mug/ml Zn and 0.6 mug/ml Fe.     

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.     

Indirect determination of free cyanide in industrial waste effluent by atomic absorption spectrometry

An indirect method is described for the determination of free cyanide in industrial waste effluent samples by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In an alkaline medium, cyanide forms a stable complex species [Cu(BPTC)(CN)] (BPTC = 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone), which can be extracted into a mixture of isobutyl methyl ketone-isopentyl alcohol (7 + 1) with an efficiency of greater than 98.5%. The extract can be analysed directly for copper (and hence indirectly for cyanide) by flame AAS. The calibration graph is linear up to 5.7 micrograms of cyanide per millilitre of solvent mixture and the limit of detection is 4.8 ng ml-1. A large number of foreign ions were found not to interfere with the proposed method.     

Determination of silver in copper and lead metals and alloys and in zinc and selenium by atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by extraction of the tri-n-octylmethylammonium-silver bromide complex

A simple and sensitive combined solvent extraction and atomic-absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of silver in copper and lead metals and alloys and in zinc and selenium. Optimal conditions have been established for the extraction and determination of silver. Silver is extracted as the tri-n-octylmethylammonium-silver bromide complex and determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry by spraying the extract directly into the flame. As little as 0.2 mug of silver in a sample can be determined.     

Modification of nonionic adsorbent with eriochrome blue-black R for selective nickel(II) preconcentration in conventional and flow-injection atomic-absorption spectrometry

Chemical modification of nonionic sorbent Amberlite XAD-2 or anion exchanger Amberlyst A-26 with Eriochrome Blue-Black R (EBBR) produces a chelating resin of satisfactory chemical stability and resistance towards mineral acids. Retention of 10 metal ions has been examined for both resins. EBBR loaded XAD-2 was utilized for nickel(II) preconcentration in atomic-absorption spectrometry. In optimal conditions at a preconcentration time not exceeding 1 hr, nickel(II) can be determined at the 0.1 mug/l. level in flow measurements. Retention of metal ions on chelating resin is a convenient method of preconcentration and elimination of matrix interferences.     

Determination of silver, antimony, bismuth, copper, cadmium and indium in ores, concentrates and related materials by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry after methyl isobutyl ketone extraction as iodides

Methods for determining ~ 0.2 mug g or more of silver and cadmium, ~ 0.5 mug g or more of copper and ~ 5 mug g or more of antimony, bismuth and indium in ores, concentrates and related materials are described. After sample decomposition and recovery of antimony and bismuth retained by lead and calcium sulphates, by co-precipitation with hydrous ferric oxide at pH 6.20 +/- 0.05, iron(III) is reduced to iron(II) with ascorbic acid, and antimony, bismuth, copper, cadmium and indium are separated from the remaining matrix elements by a single methyl isobutyl ketone extraction of their iodides from ~2M sulphuric acid-0.1M potassium iodide. The extract is washed with a sulphuric acid-potassium iodide solution of the same composition to remove residual iron and co-extracted zinc, and the extracted elements are stripped from the extract with 20% v v nitric acid-20% v v hydrogen peroxide. Alternatively, after the removal of lead sulphate by filtration, silver, copper, cadmium and indium can be extracted under the same conditions and stripped with 40% v v nitric acid-25% v v hydrochloric acid. The strip solutions are treated with sulphuric and perchloric acids and ultimately evaporated to dry ness. The individual elements are determined in a 24% v v hydrochloric acid medium containing 1000 mug of potassium per ml by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with an air-acetylene flame. Tin, arsenic and molybdenum are not co-extracted under the conditions above. Results obtained for silver, antimony, bismuth and indium in some Canadian certified reference materials by these methods are compared with those obtained earlier by previously published methods.     

Rapid analysis of small glass fragments by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

A rapid method is described for the determination of magnesium, iron and manganese in small glass fragments (250-500 mug). The speed of the analytical procedure is made possible by the use of a convenient cold digestion stage allied to a discrete sampling method which permits the three elements of interest to be determined by flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.     

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 trace phenol in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

An indirect method for determination of trace phenol in water by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is described. The phenol is brominated in acidic solution with KBrO(3)-KBr solution at room temperature. The excess of bromine is reacted with KI and the I(2) produced is extracted into cyclohexane and then reduced back to I(-) with ascorbic acid. The I(-) is then complexed with Cd(2+) in sulphuric acid medium and the complex extracted into MIBK. The extract is analysed by flame AAS for Cd (and hence indirectly for phenol). The linear concentration range for determination of phenol is 6 x 10(-7)-0.9 x 10(-5)M in aqueous solution. Several foreign ions and organic substances do not interfere.     

An indirect method for the spectrofluorimetric determination of trace amounts of germanium after extraction as an ion association complex with rhodamine B in the presence of chromotropic acid

A highly sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of 0.05-2.00 mug germanium is described. Germanium is treated with chromotropic acid at pH 2.5 and the resultant anionic complex is extracted as an ion pair with rhodamine into toluene. Addition of butanol to the organic extract releases the fluorescent dye and facilitates its measurement at 570 nm after exciting at 540 nm. The method provides a detection limit of 0.003 mug ml(-1) and is virtually free from interference from extraneous ions. The relative standard deviaiton is 2.9% for ten determinations of 1.0 mug germanium. The method has been applied to the determination of germanium in various ores, minerals and rock samples.     

Dual-wavelength beta-correction spectrophotometry for selective determination of Zr

beta-Correction spectrophotometry was used for determination of Zr based on its formed complex with Alizarin Red S (ARS). The reaction of Zr and ARS was developed in strongly acidic solution. The determination of trace amounts of Zr in various matrixes (river, tap and industrial wastewater) was investigated by beta-correction spectrophotometry using this reaction. The results showed that Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration range of 1-17 mug ml(-1) of Zr. The detection limit is 0.63 mug ml(-1)and the sensitivity; precision and accuracy of the method are all satisfactory.     

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 bromazepam by coupling a continuous liquid-liquid extractor to an atomic-absorption spectrometer

Bromazepam, in the form of the ion-pair (bromazepam)(3) Cu(ClO(4))(2), can be extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone, and determined indirectly by atomic-absorption spectrometry with a limit of detection of 0.1 mug/ml bromazepam at the 324.8 nm copper resonance line. The optimum conditions for determining this drug (0.4-4.0 mug/ml) are described. The relative standard deviation achieved is 1.7%. The method is selective and free from the interference of other 1,4-benzodiazepines. It was applied to the determination of bromazepam in pharmaceuticals and was also spiked in plasma samples.