Separation of carrier-free 64,67Cu radionuclides from irradiated zinc targets using 6-tungstocerate(IV) gel matrix

Summary A procedure for the separation of ^64,67Cu radioisotopes from irradiated natural zinc targets was developed. Production of ^64,67Cu was carried out using ^64,67Zn(n,p)^64,67Cu reactions by fast neutron bombardment of natural zinc targets at The Second Egyptian Research Reactor (ETRR-2). The sorption behavior of ⁶⁵Zn and ^64,67Cu ions in HCl acid solutions showed high affinity of Cu ions towards 6-tungstocerate(IV) gel matrix compared with Zn ions. Carrier-free ^64,67Cu radionuclides were separated from ⁶⁵Zn on 6-tungstocerate(IV) column matrix by eluting the column with 10 ml 0.001 and 1M HCl acid solutions. The separated ^64,67Cu radionuclides were of high chemical, radiochemical and radionuclidic purity.     

Application of three-variables Doehlert matrix for optimisation of an on-line pre-concentration system for zinc determination in natural water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

This article describes an on-line pre-concentration system for zinc determination in environmental samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). It was based on the sorption of zinc(II) ions in a minicolumn of polyurethane foam loaded with 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR). The optimisation step was carried out using two-level full factorial and a Doehlert design. Three variables (sampling flow rate, buffer concentration and pH) were regarded as factors in the optimisation. Results of the two-level full factorial design 2³ for 8 runs (in duplicate) based on the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that all the factors in the tested levels are statistically significant. Besides, the interaction (sampling flow rate×buffer concentration) was also statistically significant. A three-variables Doehlert design was applied in order to determine the best condition for pre-concentration and determination of zinc. The validation process was assessed as: parameters of the analytical curve, precision, effect of other ions in the proposed system, robustness test and accuracy. The proposed system allowed determination of zinc with detection limit (3σ/S) of 0.28 μg l⁻¹, and a precision (reproducibility), calculated as relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 10.0 and 3.7% for zinc concentration of 1.0 and 5.0 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The achieved pre-concentration factor was 91.23 and the sampling frequency was 48 samples per hour. The achieved recovery for zinc determination in presence of several cations demonstrated that this procedure could be applied for analysis of water samples. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of three certified reference materials. This procedure was applied for zinc determination in several kinds of water samples including saline aqueous waste from oil Refinery.     

Spectrophotometric study of Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II) and Zn(II) complexes with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxylphenyl)porphyrin

The reaction of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxylphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) with Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II) and Zn(II) was studied spectrophotometrically and kinetics, equilibrium constants as well as photodecomposition of complexes were determined. It was verified that these metal ions with large radius accelerate the incorporation reaction of zinc into TCPP. On the basis of the mechanism and kinetics of this reaction, a sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of Zn(II) has been developed. The molar absorptivity of examined Zn-TCPP complex and Sandell's sensitivity at 423 nm were 3.5×10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 18.3 ng cm⁻². The detection limit for the recommended procedure was 1.4×10⁻⁹ M (0.9 ng ml⁻¹) and precision in range 20-100 ng ml⁻¹ not exceeds 2.7% RSD. The proposed method applied for zinc determination in natural waters and nutritional supplement was compared with AAS results and declared value.     

Determination of activable isotopic tracers of zinc by neutron activation analysis for study of bioavailability of zinc

A procedure of pre-irradiation concentration of zinc in fecal samples using anion exchanger was developed for the study of the bioavailability of zinc by neutron activation analysis. The mass ratios between⁷⁰Zn and⁶⁸Zn, or⁶⁴Zn and their contents between natural zinc and enriched zinc are used to calculate the bioavailability of zinc when the abundance of the isotope⁷⁰Zn is not high ehough.     

Voltammetric Determination of Zinc,Copper, and Selenium in Selected Raw Plant Material

The objective of this work was to determine zinc, copper, and selenium content in selected plant raw materials used as pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, or spices. The study included: Chamomillae anthodium, Anisi fructus, Menthae piperitae folium, Equiseti herba, Urticae folium, quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth seeds (Amaranthus cruentus), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and oregano (Origanum vulgare). Stripping voltammetry with differential pulse step was used for zinc, copper, and selenium determination after microwave digestion procedure for organic matrix decomposition. Obtained results showed that proposed methods were suitable in determination of selenium, copper, and zinc. Selenium content varied from 11.6 µgkg^?1 of dry weight of oregano up to 1031.2 µg kg^?1 for amaranth. Zinc content ranged from 11.1 to 42.1 mgkg^?1 and copper content was between 0.7 and 12.0 mg kg^?1. The proposed method was successfully applied and validated by studying the certified reference material (INCT-MPH-2, bovine liver BCR-185), with recovery 94%–102%; 92%–97%; and 97%–108% for copper, zinc, and selenium, respectively.     

Spectrophotometric determination of zinc in copper-base alloys with TAN

TAN reacts with zinc(II) forming a red complex with composition 1:2 Zn(II)-TAN and absorption maximum at 582 nm. Zinc can be determined with this reagent in the presence of Triton X-100, in the pH range 6.20-8.00 with a molar absorptivity of 4.5×10⁴ l/mol/cm Beer's Law was obeyed up to least 1.55 g/ml. Copper interference was eliminated with a mixture of thiosulfate and ascorbic acid and nickel separated by precipitation with dimethylglyoxime. The proposed method was used for zinc determination in several copper-base alloys and the results of analysis in comparison with certified values indicated that the procedure was accurate and precise. A derivative procedure is also proposed, allowing zinc determination with high sensitivity (5-400 ng/ml).     

On-line preconcentration system using a minicolumn of polyurethane foam loaded with Me-BTABr for zinc determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

In the present paper, an on-line system for preconcentration and determination of zinc by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. It is based in the sorption of zinc(II) ions on a minicolumn packed with polyurethane foam loaded with 2-[2′-(6-methyl-benzothiazolylazo)]-4-bromophenol (Me-BTABr) reagent. Chemical and flow variables as pH effect, sample flow rate and eluent concentration were optimized using univariate methodology. The results demonstrated that zinc can determinate using the sample pH in the range of 6.5-9.2, sample flow rate of 6.0 ml min⁻¹, and the elution step using 0.10 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid solution at flow rate of 5.5 ml min⁻¹. In these conditions, an enrichment factor of 23 and a sampling rate of 48 samples per hour were achieved. The detection limit (DL, 3σ) as IUPAC recommendation was 0.37 μg l⁻¹ and the precision (assessed as the relative standard deviation, R.S.D.) reached values of 5.9-1.8% in zinc solutions of 1.0-10.0 μg l⁻¹ concentration, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of zinc in natural water samples from Salvador (Brazil).     

A multi-pumping flow-based procedure with improved sensitivity for the spectrophotometric determination of acid-dissociable cyanide in natural waters

An analytical procedure with improved sensitivity was developed for cyanide determination in natural waters, exploiting the reaction with the complex of Cu(I) with 2,2′-biquinoline 4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (BCA). The flow system was based on the multi-pumping approach and long pathlength spectrophotometry with a flow cell based on a Teflon AF 2400^® liquid core waveguide was exploited to increase sensitivity. A linear response was achieved from 5 to 200 μg L⁻¹, with coefficient of variation of 1.5% (n = 10). The detection limit and the sampling rate were 2 μg L⁻¹ (99.7% confidence level), and 22 h⁻¹, respectively. Per determination, 48 ng of Cu(II), 5 μg of ascorbic acid and 0.9 μg of BCA were consumed. As high as 100 mg L⁻¹ thiocyanate, nitrite or sulfite did not affect cyanide determination. Sulfide did not interfere at concentrations lower than 40 and 200 μg L⁻¹ before or after sample pretreatment with hydrogen peroxide. The results for natural waters samples agreed with those obtained by a fluorimetric flow-based procedure at the 95% confidence level. The proposed procedure is then a reliable, fast and environmentally friendly alternative for cyanide determination in natural waters.     

Application of Cloud Point Extraction for Copper,Nickel, Zinc and Iron Ions in Environmental Samples

A cloud point extraction procedure was presented for the preconcentration of copper, nickel, zinc and iron ions in various samples. After complexation by 2‐(6‐(1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]Imidazole (BIYPYBI), analyte ions are quantitatively extracted in Triton X‐114 following centrifugation. 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ nitric acid in methanol was added to the surfactant‐rich phase prior to its analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The adopted concentrations for BIYPYBI, Triton X‐114 and HNO₃ and bath temperature, centrifuge rate and time were optimized. Detection limits for Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions was 1.4, 2.2, 1.0 and 1.9 ng mL^?1, respectively. The preconcentration factors for all ions was 30, while the enrichment factor of Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions was 35, 25, 39 and 30, respectively. The proposed procedure was applied to the analysis of real samples.     

Selective back-extraction and preconcentration of zinc(II) from metal-1,3,5-triketone extracts prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple back-extraction method was developed for the separation and preconcentration of trace levels of zinc from different matrices. Ethyl-2-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropanoylcarbamate (EMPC) was used as a new complexing agent for the extraction of zinc(II) from the aqueous sample phase to the methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) phase as Zn(EMPC)₂ complexes. The Zn(II) can be selectively stripped with 1?mL of 0.5?mol?L^?1 HCl from Mⁿ⁺(EMPC)_n complexes [Ag(I), Al(III), Cd(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Pd(II)] which dissolved in MIBK phase. Some experimental parameters, which are important for the whole extraction process, including pH, sample volume, shaking time, amount of the EMPC reagent, amount of MIBK, ionic strength, and type of back-extractant were investigated. The recovery for Zn(II) was greater than 95%. The detection limit of the method was found to be 0.2?µg?L ^{? 1} and the relative standard deviation as 6.4%. The concentrations of Zn(II) in the certified reference materials (LGC6019 river water and NIST-1547 peach leaves) by the presented method were in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was succesfully applied to the determination of zinc in some natural waters, rice, hair, soil, and tea samples.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetry of nickel at a bare glassy carbon electrode

A bare glassy carbon electrode is applied to nickel determination by adsorptive stripping voltammetry in the presence of dimethylglyoxime as a complexing agent. A procedure of nickel determination and electrode regeneration was proposed. The calibration graph for Ni(II) for an accumulation time of 120?s was linear from 2?×?10^?9 to 1?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1. The detection limit was 8.2?×?10^?10?mol?L^?1. The relative standard deviation for a solution containing 2?×?10^?8?mol?L^?1 of Ni(II) was 4.1%. The proposed procedure was applied for Ni(II) determination in certified water reference materials.     

Determination of bismuth and zinc in pharmaceuticals by first derivative UV-Visible spectrophotometry

A first order derivative spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of bismuth and zinc by dithizone without time-consuming extraction step. The reactions of bismuth and zinc with dithizone in a three component solution prepared in water, acetone and n-propanol mixture have been investigated. These cations react with dithizone in this mixture at pH 5.0, forming coloured complex that is stable for at least 2 h. The linear range in D evaluation was between 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.8 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ for Zn and 2.4 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ for Bi. The limits of detection for the analytical procedure were found 0.05 mg l⁻¹ for both cations. The relative standard deviations for the determination of 0.5 mg l⁻¹ bismuth and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ zinc were 1.2 and 1.1%, respectively, for five determinations. The procedure is simple, rapid and reliable. This method was applied to the determination of bismuth and zinc in the pharmaceutical materials successfully. Good agreement was achieved between the results obtained by the proposed and comparative methods.     

The determination of copper in zinc materials by neutron activation analysis using the 65Cu(n,γ)66Cu reaction

The nondestructive and destructive determinations of copper in zinc materials by neutron activation using ⁶⁵Cu(n,γ)⁶⁶Cu reaction are described. Observed cross-sections of ⁶⁴Zn(n,p)⁶⁴Cu and ⁶⁶Zn(n,p)⁶⁶Cu reactions for fission spectrum neutrons were 28 and 0.51 mb respectively. A double irradiation technique with one sample wrapped in cadmium foil and another bare, was employed for the correction of the concurrent formation of ⁶⁶Cu by (n,p) reaction. 100 p.p.m. of copper in zinc sulfide was determined nondestructively by γ-ray spectrometry using a thermal flux of 5 · 10¹¹ n/cm²/sec, while 0.5 p.p.m. of copper in zinc was determined by a thermal flux of 2.5 · 10¹⁰ n/cm²/sec, and by a rapid chemical separation involving copper(I) thiocyanate precipitation. The proposed activation procedures were compared with the spectrophotometric dibenzyldithiocarbamate procedure.     

Gas-Chromatographic Determination of C<Subscript>1</Subscript>-C<Subscript>4</Subscript> Hydrocarbon Trace Impurities in Silicon Tetrafluoride

A procedure was developed for the gas-chromatographic determination of hydrocarbons in silicon tetrafluoride of natural and isotopically enriched compositions. For improving the efficiency of the chromatographic determination of impurities, it was proposed that the major compound be removed from the test sample with the subsequent cryofocusing of impurity hydrocarbons. The detection limits of C₁-C₄ hydrocarbons were 2 × 10^?6?6 × 10^?6 vol %.     

Fast ultrasound-assisted extraction of copper,iron, manganese and zinc from human hair samples prior to flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

A dynamic ultrasound-assisted extraction procedure utilizing diluted nitric acid was developed for the determination of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in human hair taken from workers in permanent contact with a polluted environment. The extraction unit of the dynamic ultrasound-assisted extraction system contains a minicolumn into which a specified amount of hair (5–50 mg) is placed. Once inserted into the continuous manifold, trace metals were extracted at 3 mL min⁻¹ with 3 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid under the action of ultrasound for 2 min for zinc and 3 min for copper, iron and manganese determination, and using an ultrasonic water-bath temperature of 70 °C for zinc and 80 °C for copper, iron and manganese determination. The system permits the direct analysis of hair and yields concentrations with relative standard deviations of <3% (n = 11). The applicability of the procedure was verified by analysing human hair samples from workers exposed to welding fumes, and its accuracy was assessed through comparison with a conventional sample dissolution procedure and the use of a certified reference material (BCR 397, human hair).     

Determination of Thallium in a Flow System by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry at a Bismuth Film Electrode

A procedure for trace thallium determination by anodic stripping voltammetry at a bismuth film electrode is presented. Measurements were performed in a flow system. The calibration graph was linear from 2×10^?9 to 3×10^?8 mol L^?1 for an accumulation time of 300 s. A detection limit for Tl⁺ following deposition time of 300 s was 6×10^?10 mol L^?1. The relative standard deviation at Tl⁺ concentration 2×10^?8 mol L^?1 was 3.9%. For determination of thallium in complex matrices the procedure for elimination of interferences from foreign ions exploiting anion exchange resin was proposed. The procedure proposed was validated by analysis of rain water certified reference material.     

Determination of inorganic tin and organotin compounds by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with a new matrix modifier

The determination of total tin in water samples by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described. A matrix modifier containing 0.4% (w/v) potassium dichromate and 0.2% ammonium dihydrogenphosphate in 2% nitric acid is proposed. Interferences from major ions in natural fresh waters decreased and the sensitivity is greatly improved. The procedure is compatible with all the commercial injection devices and requires no pretreatment of the graphite furnace or use of a stabilized temperature platform. The 3σ detection limit is 0.62 ng Sn ml^?1, and calibration is linear up to 30 ng ml^?1 tin.     

Sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of zinc at ultra-trace levels

An ultra-trace method based on the reaction of zinc with salicylthiocarbohydrazone (SATCH) and Triton X-100 as a non-ionic surfactant was developed for the fluorimetric determination of zinc at the picogram level. The reaction is carried out in the pH range 4.4–4.7 in an aqueous ethanolic medium [52% (v/v) ethanol]. The influence of the reaction variables is discussed. The detection limit is 10 pg ml^?1 and the range of application is 0.01–500 μg l^?1, with an optimum range of 0.04–400 μg l^?1. The relative standard deviations are 0.68% (0.01–0.1 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.41% (0.1–1.0 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.64% (1–10 μg l^?1 of zinc), 0.82% (10–100 μg l^?1 of zinc) and 0.15% (100–500 μg l^?1 of zinc). The method is highly sensitive and selective in the presence of Cd^II and Hg^II. The effect of interferences from other metal ions and anions was studied; the masking action is discussed. The advantages of the proposed method include its high sensitivity, simplicity and selectivity.     

DNA Binding and Cleavage Activity of Zinc(II) Complex of N,N′‐Bis(2‐guanidinoethyl)‐2,6‐pyridinedicarboxamide

The interaction of zinc(II) complex of N,N′‐bis(guanidinoethyl)‐2,6‐pyridinedicarboxamide (Gua) with DNA was studied by CD spectroscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. The results indicate that the DNA binding affinity of Zn²⁺‐Gua is stronger than that of Gua and the Zn²⁺‐Gua can promote the cleavage of phosphodiester bond of supercoiled DNA under a physiological condition, which is ～10⁶ times higher than DNA natural degradation. The hydrolysis pathway was proposed as the possible mechanism for DNA cleavage promoted by the Zn²⁺‐ Gua. The acceleration is due to cooperative catalysis of the zinc cation center and the functional groups (bisguanidinium groups).     

Determination of antimony,bismuth, and zinc in environmental samples by atomic emission spectrometry

A procedure was developed for the atomic emission determination of antimony, zinc, and bismuth in bird and fish ash using thermochemical iodination reactions in a chamber electrode of an alternating current (ac) carbon arc. A mixture of cadmium iodide and carbon powder was used as an iodination agent. The relative standard deviation of the procedure was 10–15%. The minimum detection limit was 2.1 × 10⁻⁴, 7.5 × 10⁻⁵, and 1.2 × 10⁻⁴% for antimony, bismuth, and zinc, respectively.