Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of aluminium in water with pyrocatechol violet

Optimum conditions for the adaptation of the spectrophotometric pyrocatechol violet method for aluminium to a flow-injection system are described. The detection limit is 3 μg Al l^?1 and calibration graphs are linear up to 3 or 10 mg l^?1 (with 200-μl or 10-μl injection loops, respectively). The relative standard deviation is 〈 2% at 0.1 mg Al l^?1. Potential interferences of 40 common inorganic ions and of 20 organic substances, including fulvic acid, are reported. With the use of conventional masking agents and predigestion of samples with high organic content, the method is suitable for determining total aluminium in natural waters.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of glucose in blood plasma with bindschedler's green leuco base as color reagent

The hydrogen peroxide produces in the oxidation of glucos in an immobilized glucose oxidase reactor is determined by using Bindschedler's green (leuco base) as color reagent with iron(II) as catalyst; the increase in the absorbance at 725 nm is measured. For 100-μl samples, calibration was almost linear in the range 0–2.5 mg l^?1 glucose; the relative standard deviation for 1 mg l^?1 glucose was 0.6% (n=10) and the detection limit (S/N= 2) was 0.02 mg l^?1. The injection rate was 20 h^?1. Glucose was determined satisfactorily in control sera and in real blood sera.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of palladium in catalysts and dental alloys with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-sulfopropyl-amino)aniline

2-(5-Bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-sulfopropylamino)aniline rapidly forms a water-soluble complex with palladium in an acetate-buffered medium at pH 3.2.The molar absorptivity of the complex is 9.84×10⁴l mol^?1 at 612 nm. The calibration graph is linear over the range of 10–100 μg l^?1 palladium; the detection limit is 2 μg l^?1 and the relative standard deviation is 0.6% for 100 μg l^?1 palladium. The sample throughput is 50 h^?1. Divalent transition metals (Fe, Ni, Co) do not interfere at levels from 2 to 10 mg l^?1. Interference from copper is prevented by adding 10^?3 M EDTA solution to the carrier stream. Palladium in solutions of catalysts and dental alloys can be determined selectively, sensitively and rapidly.     

Spectrophotometric determination of lithium ion with the chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4

A spectrophotometric method of determining alkali metal ions with a chromogenice crown ether reagent was found to be more selective and sensitive than an ion-pairing method based on the same size of crown ether cavity. It is shown that in the ion-pairing method, the sensitivity toward lithium ion was 5.685 × 10^?4 absorbance/mg l^?1, with sodium interfering at 300 mg l^?1. The chromogenic crown ether, 2″,4″-dinitro-6″-trifluoromeethylphenyl-4′-aminobenzo-14-crown-4, was much superior to benzo-14-crown-4. The sensitivity of the chromogenic crown ether was 1.69 × 10^?3 absorbance/mg l^?1. This represents a three-fold increase in sensitivity and less reagent is needed (2 × 10^?4 M for the chromogenic method versus 1.4 × 10^?3 M for ion-pairing). Interference from sodium decreased to 3000 mg l^?1. The reagent was used to determine lithium ion in treated blood serum samples in both a batch and flow injection method and results were compared with data obtained with atomic absorption; excellent agreement was obtained in all cases.     

Effects of iron on the degradation of triphenyltin by pyoverdins isolated from Pseudomonas chlororaphis

The yellow compound pyoverdin was isolated from the bacteria Pseudomonas chlororaphis, isolated from mud in Japan. A study of the effects of iron, phosphorus, manganese and zinc on degradation of triphenyltin (TPT) by pyoverdin (20 mg) was carried out in distilled water (30 ml) containing 6 µg l^?1 concentration of TPT at 20 °C for 48 or 96 h. The organotins in water were analyzed by gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry in the selected ion mode. The degradation of TPT by pyoverdin decreased with increase of phosphorus at 0–35 mg l^?1 and Fe‐EDTA at 0–2 mg l^?1 concentrations. Also, degradation of diphenyltin by pyoverdin decreased with increase of Mn‐EDTA at 0–1 mg l^?1 and Zn‐EDTA at 0–1 mg l^?1. On the other hand, degradation of TPT by pyoverdin was found to be unaffected by manganese and zinc in water. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A microcomputer-based peak-width method of extended calibration for flow-injection atomic absorption spectrometry

In the proposed method of extended calibration based on peak widths, all data collection and reduction are done by a microcomputer interfaced to the spectrometer. The method produces an estimate of concentration without dilution of the off-range samples. Calibrations covering the ranges 40/2-1000 mg l^?1, 1.0/2-50 mg l^?1 and 20/2-1000 mg l^?1 were obtained for chromium, magnesium and nickel, respectively.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of calcium and magnesium with chlorphosphonazo-III by flow injection analysis

In this flow-injection method, the total concentration of calcium and magnesium is determined by using triethanolamine/hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 7.0) and chlorphosphonazo-III (CPA-III) in the flow streams, and the concentration of calcium alone is determined by using 1.6×10^?3 M hydrochloric acid and CPA-III in the flow treams. At pH 7.0, medium, the linear calibration ranges were 0–2.00 mg l^?1 for both calcium and magnesium and the detection limits were each 0.02 mg l^?1; at pH 2.2, the linear calibration range for calcium and the detection limit were 0.20–2.00 mg l^?1 and 0.1 mg l^?1, respectively. Injection rates are 200 h. The method is suitable for analyzing natural waters.     

Separation of trace rare earths and other metals from uranium by liquid-liquid extraction with quantitation by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry

N,N-Dihexylacetamide in toluene was used to extract uranium selectively from an aqueous phase containing 30 elements at 10 or 100 μg l^?1 concentrations. After three extractions, the uranium level fell from 119 000 mg l^?1 (0.5 M) to less than 3 mg l^?1. An inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectrometer (i.c.p./m.s.) was used to determine recoveries of the trace elements in the aqueous phase, which, in most cases, were in the range 90–110%. This combination of liquid-liquid extraction with i.c.p./m.s. offers determinations at the 10 ng g^?1 level in uranium for most of the elements studied.     

Determination of boron in water by flow injection/inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

A method is described involving flow injection and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry for the determination of boron (0.5–25 mg l^?1) in water at a sampling rate of 320 h^?1. An 11-ml capacity cloud chamber, with a tangential aerosol outlet, was used to introduce the nebulized sample to the plasma. The sample volume injected was 300 μl. The relative standard deviation for peak height was 3% for 10 mg l^?1 of boron at a carier flow-rate of 3.5 ml min^?1. The wash-out between samples was improved by using the 11-ml cloud chamber rather than a conventional 110-ml chamber.     

Determination of total phosphorus in waters with amperometric detection by coupling of flow-injection analysis with continuous microwave oven digestion

For the determination of total phosphorus in waters by flow-injection analysis, a continuous microwave oven decomposition with subsequent amperometric detection of orthophosphate is proposed. The percentage digestion was examined for two different decomposition reagents and by varying the pH of the carrier and the length and diameter of the digestion coil. With potassium peroxodisulphate decomposition the recoveries of phosphorus vary from 91 to 100% for organic phosphorus compounds, and with perchloric acid decomposition the recoveries vary from 60 to 70% for inorganic polyphosphates. Calibration graphs are linear for up to 30 mg P l^?1, the determination limit is 0.1 mg P l^?1 and the precision of the method is 3% (relative standard deviation) (n = 5) at 5 mg P l^?1. The sampling rate is 20 h^?1. Good recoveries of phosphorus after addition to domestic waste water sample are obtained.     

Utilisation of kinetic-based flow injection methods for the determination of chlorine and oxychlorine species

Automated selective iodometric methods for the determination of chlorine and oxychlorine species have been developed for use in the drinking water industry. By utilising kinetic-based methods, linear ranges observed were: chlorine, 0.2–10 mg l^?1; chlorine dioxide, 0.3–10 mg l^?1; chlorite ion, 0.08–5 mg l^?1; and chlorate ion, 0.08–5 mg l^?1.     

Spectrophotometric determination of vanadium(V) with methoxypromazine maleate and its application to vanadium steels and minerals

The reagent in 8-fold excess forms a violet species with vanadium(V) instantaneously in 1–3 M phosphoric acid. The absorption maximum is at 565 nm; the molar absorptivity is 1.65 × 10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0.1–6.5 mg l^?1 vanadium (V); the optimum range is 0.3–6.0 mg l^?1; the Sandell sensitivity is 3.1 ng cm^?2. The method is simple and selective. The method is applicable for the determination of vanadium in vanadium steels and minerals.     

Flow-injection analysis for power plants: Evaluation of detectors for the determination of control parameters in conditioned water—steam cycles

Flow-injection methods are described for monitoring water in power-plant cycles. The parameters considered are pH (in the range 5.5–9.5), using a flat-headed combined electrode, ammonia (0.2–3 mg N l^?1), using Nessler, Berthelot and gas-diffusion methods, hydrazine (0.025–0.3 mg l^?1), using the dimethylamino-4-benzaldehyde method, copper (0.02–0.2 mg l^?1), using bathocuproin and methods based on ion-selective electrodes, iron (0.01–10 mg l^?1), using phenanthroline, ferrozine and biamperometric methods, and silicon (0.02–0.1 mg l^?1), using the heteropoly blue complex, with two different types of reducing agent [tin(II) chloride and ascorbic acid]. The parameters considered were precision, analysis frequency and application range. The results obtained showed that flow-injection methods perform well in terms of sensitivity and analysis frequency and suggested the possibility of transferring this methodology to analytical systems in power plants.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of fluoride based on alizarin fluorine blue in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate

The stopped-flow reagent-injection method proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of fluoride with lanthanum (III)/alizarin fluorine blue in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate at pH 4.6 (λ_max=574 nm) provides a linear calibration graph for 0.08–1.2 mg l^?1 fluoride. The relative standard deviation (n=10) was 0.2% at 0.60 mg l^?1 fluoride. The sampling rate was 60 h^?1. The method is applied to sea and bottled mineral waters with satisfactory results.     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in natural waters, vitamins and certified steel scrap samples using acetophenone-p-chlorophenylthiosemicarbazone

A very simple, highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric procedure was developed for the determination of copper(II). It is based on the reaction at pH 4–9 between the synthesized acetophenone-p-chlorophenylthiosemicarbazone (A-p-ClPT) and Cu(II) forming a green complex, Cu(II):A-p-ClPT (1:2), that floats quantitatively with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant. It exhibits a constant and maximum absorbance at 600 nm in both aqueous and surfactant layers. Beer’s law is obeyed over the concentration range 0.25–6.35 mg l^?1 with a detection limit of 0.021 mg l^?1 for a standard aqueous solution of Cu(II) with a concentration of 3.82 mg l^?1 (calculated on the basis of 3σ) and molar absorptivities of 5.5 × 10³ and 1.3 × 10⁴ mol l^?1 cm^?1 in aqueous and surfactant layers, respectively. Sandell’s sensitivity was calculated to be 0.244 μg cm^?2 and the relative standard deviation (n = 9) was 0.19%. The different analytical parameters affecting the flotation and determination processes were examined. The proposed procedure has been successfully applied to the analysis of Cu(II) in natural waters, certified scrap steel samples and vitamin samples. The results obtained agree well with those samples analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Moreover, the flotation mechanism is suggested based on some physical and chemical studies on the solid complexes isolated from aqueous and surfactant layers.     

Sequential flow-injection determinations of calcium and magnesium in waters

A tubular PVC membrane electrode for calcium without inner reference solution and a device for location of the reference electrode are described. In the flow-injection system, calcium is determined potentiometrically and then magnesium is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The electrode provides linear response to calcium in the range 5 × 10^?5/2-10^?1 M. On-line dilution of the sample allows magnesium determination in the range 0/2-10 mg l^?. Flow rates between 3 and 6 ml min^?1 are possible. The sampling frequency is 60/2-90 h^?1.     

Phosphatation of iron powder metallurgical samples for corrosion protection

Recently, powder metallurgy methods have been used widely for industrial purposes. In this work, powder-metallurgically produced samples were selected for zinc phosphate coating. Zinc phosphate coating was performed at 50 and 70 °C for 20 min in a bath containing 10 g l^?1 ZnO, 25.5 g l^?1 H₃PO₄, 5.88 g l^?1 HNO₃, and 2 g l^?1 NaNO₃. The effect of temperature on the phosphating process has been studied. The structure and corrosion resistance of coats have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods (polarization and EIS). Results show that an increase in temperature affects the crystalline structure of the coats. The formation of the zinc phosphate coat on the powder metallurgical samples significantly decreases the corrosion rate of the samples.     

Determination of sulphur(II) compounds by flow injection analysis with application of the induced iodine/azide reaction

Sulphur(II) compounds that rapidly induce the iodine/azide reaction are determined by injection of 10-μl samples into an iodine/azide solution at a flow rate of 1.4 ml min^?1. Iodine consumption in the induced reaction is detected by biamperometry with platinum electrodes. The linear calibration ranges depend on the concentration of iodine in the iodine/azide solution pumped. The detection limit for thiosulphate, 2-mercapto-pyrimidine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiobarbituric acid or 6-mercaptopurine is 0.1 mg l^?1 and for sulphide, cysteine, thiourea or glutathione is 0.2 mg l^?1 in the injected sample.     

Continuous-flow extraction of organophosphorus pesticides coupled on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography

A continuous-flow extraction system coupled on-line with a high-performance liquid chromatograph with an ultraviolet detector is used to study the extraction of three organophosphorus pesticides (fenthion, azinphos methyl and diazinon) from aqueous samples with n-heptane as the organic solvent. Diazinon was not extracted significantly. The influence on the extraction of different parameters (coil length, flow rate and phase volume ratio) were studied. The calibration graphs are linear for 0.5–7 mg l^?1 and 8–20 mg l^?1 foor azinphos methyl where the percentage extraction (E%) is 90% and 70%, respectively, and up to 4 mg l^?1 for fenthion, where the E% is 33%. The detection limits and the relative standard deviations are 0.04 and 0.09 mg l^?1, and 3.4 and 5.3%, for azinphos methyl fenthion, respectively. Other pesticides and related compounds were found not to interfere. The sample throughput of this method was 15 h^?1.     

Determination of Total Nitrogen in Environmental Samples: Validation by Comparison of Techniques and Intralaboratory Studies

Abstract

A rapid, microwave-based extraction method was employed to oxidize all forms of nitrogen to nitrate in environmental samples using persulfate. The digest was then analyzed spectrophotometrically after an offline reduction of nitrate to nitrite using a cadmium reductor column was completed. The precision of the method was tested at the 0.5 mg l^?1 level and was 5.2% (N = 10). The detection limit based on S/N = 3 was calculated to be 0.15 mg l^?1. The method was thoroughly validated by comparison of analytical techniques and intralaboratory comparison studies.