Determination of sub-nanogram quantities of ruthenium by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry

Flameless atomic absorption spectrometry has been applied to the determination of subnanogram quantities of ruthenium in a variety of matrices encountered in the solidification of nuclear waste. Detection limits ranged to below 10^?10 g, depending on the sample matrix. Most matrix effects could be eliminated by proper selection of atomizer temperature program, allowing the use of a single set of standards in 0.1 N HCl. The one exception was the calcined solid matrix, where a fusion and extraction were used to dissolve the ruthenium and separate it from matrix constituents.     

Atomic absorption spectrometry of vanadium with a tungsten electrothermal atomizer

A detailed study of the atomic absorption characteristics of vanadium with a tungsten micro-tube atomizer is presented. The absolute sensitivities (1% absorption) were 2 × lO^-10 and 4 × 10^-11 g of vanadium for ammonium vanadate and the vanadium N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine complex, respectively. Diverse elements and acids have pronounced depressive effects, but vanadium may be determined in rocks after selective extraction of the above complex into chloroform.     

Determination of vanadium and titanium in steel by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with modified use of a tungsten boat furnace atomizer for atomic absorption spectrometry

For electrothermal sample introduction, a commercially available tungsten boat atomizer for atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was transferred to a vaporizer for inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The modification retained as much of the original design of the atomizer as possible, so that the apparatus could be switched easily between conventional tungsten boat furnace (TBF)-AAS and TBF-ICP-AES. By using this system, a procedure for the determination of vanadium and titanium in steel was investigated. The detection limits (S/N=3) of vanadium and titanium were 3.9 and 1.5 ng ml^?1, respectively. The relative standard deviations for five replicate determinations were ca. 3% for both elements. The calibration graphs were linear up to 100 μg ml^?1 vanadium(V) and 10 μg ml^?1 titanium(IV). Results of analyses of some low-alloy steel samples are given.     

The electrochemical stripping determination of tin in aqueous and nonaqueous media after its extraction

The anodic stripping voltammetric and chronopotentiometric determination of tin(IV) in aqueous and nonaqueous medium after its extraction using the rotating disc electrode made of glassy carbon with the mercury film was studied. The optimum composition of nonaqueous medium for the determination of tin is 0.2 M NaBr+5×10^?5M Hg²⁺ in 20 ml of the extract +30 ml of methanol. Tin(IV) was determined by anodic stripping voltammetry or chronopotentiometry down to the concentration 10^?7M. The selective determination of tin was studied. 10^?6M of tin(IV) was determined with an error ±4–5% even in the presence of metals: Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺ (5×10^?3M), Ag⁺ and Pb²⁺ (5×10^?4M), Cu²⁺ (1.5×10^?4M), Sb³⁺ and Bi³⁺ (5×10^?5M).     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II) with diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone)

Diphenylglyoxal bis(2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone) has been used as a sensitive reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of tin. This reagent forms an orange-yellow complex with stannous ion at pH 3.5–7.0 (λ_max = 455 nm, ? = 2.25 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1/cm^?1 while no reaction is observed with quadrivalent tin. The colored complex extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone has been used for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of tin(II). The molar absorption in the organic solvent is 3.54 × 10⁴ liter mol^?1 cm^?1 and the compound shows its maximum absorbance at 455 nm. The interferences of foreign ions have been determined.     

Determination of traces of antimony and tin in copper by anodic stripping voltammetry

The determination of antimony and tin impurities in copper by anodic stripping voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode is described. Antimony and tin were previously separated from copper by distillation with hydrobromic acid or a mixture of hydrobromic acid and hydrochloric acid. The method was applied to the analysis of various high-purity copper samples, commercially available, showing satisfactory sensitivity and precision. The determination limit was about 1.4· 10^-9M for antimony and 7·10^-10M for tin in solution, for pre-electrolysis times of respectively 15 and 25 min; this corresponds to 0.8 p.p.b. of antimony and 0.3 p.p.b. of tin for a 2-g sample and a final volume of 10 ml after separation.     

Consecutive determination of rutin and quercetin by spectrophotometric measurements

The consecutive determination of rutin and quercetin without any pretreatment for separation was examined in methanol solutions by a conventional and a two-wavelength spectrophotometry. Based the tendency of quercetin to form more stable metal complexes compared to rutin, quercetin can be determined through the tin(II) complex formation without interference from rutin. The method was applied to the determination of quercetin in the concentration range of 3.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?5M.Quercetin is apt to be oxidized by oxygen rather than rutin, especially in the presence of copper(II), whereas rutin is not decomposed under such a condition. After removal of quercetin through copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation, rutin ranging in concentration from 2.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?M was determined by the absorbance measurement of rutin-copper(II) complex in slightly alkaline methanol media.Both rutin and quercetin were determined directly by two-wavelength spectrophotometry, without adding any complex forming metals; the lower limit of detection was about 1.0 × 10^?5M. The method was extended to the determination of a smaller amounts of rutin and quercetin using the absorption peaks of their zirconium(IV) complexes, and the determination of both components in the range of 5.0 × 10^?6 to 3.0 × 10^?5M was made with a relative error of within ±4%.     

Green method for ultrasensitive determination of Hg in natural waters by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry following sono-induced cold vapor generation and ‘in-atomizer trapping’

Sono-induced cold vapor generation (SI-CVG) has been used for the first time in combination with a graphite furnace atomizer for determination of Hg in natural waters by electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry after in situ trapping onto a noble metal-pretreated platform (Pd, Pt or Rh) inserted into a graphite tube. The system allows ‘in-atomizer trapping’ of Hg without the use of conventional reduction reactions based on sodium borohydride or tin chloride in acid medium for cold vapor generation. The sono-induced reaction is accomplished by applying ultrasound irradiation to the sample solution containing Hg(II) in the presence of an organic compound such as formic acid. As this organic acid is partly degraded upon ultrasound irradiation to yield CO, CO₂, H₂ and H₂O, the amount of lab wastes is minimized and a green methodology is achieved.     

Catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry versus electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in the determination of trace cobalt and chromium in human urine

Two methods of the determination of cobalt and chromium in human urine of non-occupationally exposed populations—highly sensitive catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (CAdSV) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS)—are evaluated and compared. The CAdSV methods are based on adsorptive accumulation of a cobalt-nioxime (1,2-cyclohexanedione dioxime) or a chromium-DTPA (diethylenetriammine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid) complexes on a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by a stripping voltammetric measurement of the catalytic reduction current of the adsorbed complex in the presence of sodium nitrite in case of cobalt or in the presence of sodium nitrate in case of chromium determination. In the CAdSV procedure UV-photolysis was used for the sample pre-treatment; the ET-AAS determination did not require any separate preliminary decomposition of the analyte urine samples. The accuracy of the procedures was checked by the analysis of commercially available quality control urine samples. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.13 μg l⁻¹ for Co and 0.18 μg l⁻¹ for Cr in ET-AAS determination and 0.007 μg l⁻¹ for Co and 0.002 μg l⁻¹ for Cr in CAdSV measurements. Precision (R.S.D.) was less than 5% for both methods. The study has shown that the CAdSV is a more reliable and sensitive technique for the determination of very low cobalt and chromium contents in urine, the detection of which is not possible when using the AAS technique.     

Determination of total tin in silicate rocks by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is described for the determination of total tin in silicate rocks utilizing a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer with a stabilized-temperature platform furnace and Zeeman-effect background correction. The sample is decomposed by lithium metaborate fusion (3 + 1) in graphite crucibles with the melt being dissolved in 7.5% hydrochloric acid. Tin extractions (4 + 1 or 8 + 1) are executed on portions of the acid solutions using a 4% solution of trioctylphosphine oxide in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Ascorbic acid is added as a reducing agent prior to extraction. A solution of diammonium hydrogenphosphate and magnesium nitrate is used as a matrix modifier in the graphite furnace determination. The limit of detection is > 10 pg, equivalent to > 1 μg l^?1 of tin in the MIBK solution or 0.2–0.3 μg g^?1 in the rock. The concentration range is linear between 2.5 and 500 μg l^?1 tin in solution. The precision, measured as relative standard deviation, is < 20% at the 2.5 μg l^?1 level and < 7% at the 10–30 μg l^?1 level of tin. Excellent agreement with recommended literature values was found when the method was applied to the international silicate rock standards BCR-1, PCC-1, GSP-1, AGV-1, STM-1, JGb-1 and Mica-Fe. Application was made to the determination of tin in geological core samples with total tin concentrations of the order of 1 μg g^?1 or less.     

A rapid method for the determination of organic carbon in soil

TIURIN'S method for the determination of organic carbon in soil is modified to give results practically identical with those of the dry combustion method. The standard deviation of a single determination is only 12%. By using 50 mg of soil and 10 ml of 0.2 N dichromate solution, soils with a carbon, content up to 12% can bo analysed. The method is suitable for all soils except those containing much chloride or reducing substances other than organic carbon Carbonates do not interfere.     

Kinetic determination of 1,3-propanediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid and in a mixture with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid

A kinetic method is proposed for the determination of propanediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid, based on its inhibitory effect on the acetonitrile-catalysed oxidation of Pyrocatechol Violet by hydrogen peroxide. The concentrations of 1,3-propanediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid determined ranged from 5.0 × 10^?7 to 4.0 × 10^?6 M with a relative standard deviation of up to 3.3%. The same indicator reaction can be applied to the determination of 1,3-propanediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid and ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid in mixtures. Mixtures of these acids in molar ratios from 1 ∶ 4.5 to 10 ∶ 1 have been analysed. Concentrations of 1,3-propanediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid from 2.0 × 10^?7 to 1.0 × 10^?6 M and ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid from 1.0 × 10^?7 to 9.0 × 10^?7 M were determined with relative standard deviations of up to 4.3 and 5.7%, respectively. The effect of foreign ions on the accuracy of these determinations was also investigated.     

P NMR study of the valence stability of tin in its 1-hydroxyethylene-diphosphonate (HEDP) and N,N′,N′-trimethylenephosphonate-polyethyleneimine (PEI-MP) complexes

The valence stability of tin in its complexes with 1-hydroxyethylene-diphosphonate (HEDP) and with N,N′,N′-trimethylenephosphonate-polyethyleneimine (PEI-MP) was investigated. With particular interest in the possible interconversion between Sn²⁺ and Sn⁴⁺, the complexes were monitored with the aid of ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The extent of complex formation with both ligands was evaluated for systems with tin in their respective oxidation states. The Sn²⁺-complexes underwent initial, but limited oxidation upon preparation, and beyond which were rather stable, irrespective of pH or time. Both Sn²⁺- and Sn⁴⁺-complexes were found to exist in solution without change. Oxidation of Sn²⁺ was achieved by addition of hydrogen-peroxide and was partially reversed by the addition of glutathione (GSH). The amount of H₂O₂ needed for complete oxidation of the Sn²⁺- into Sn⁴⁺-complexes was determined for both ligands, as well as the time taken for that oxidation.     

Palladium-citric acid-ammonium fluoride as a matrix modifier for overcoming of interferences occurring during the direct determination of Sn in aqua regia extracts from environmental samples by D2-ETAAS

When tin is to be determined in such a complex matrix like aqua regia extracts of environmental samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), spectral interferences occur when deuterium-lamp (D₂) background correction is used, even using high pyrolysis temperature of 1400 °C achieved with palladium with citric acid chemical modifier. We have found that the further addition of NH₄F to palladium with citric acid chemical modifier is essential for overcoming the above-mentioned problems for which aluminium oxide is most probably responsible. It is supposed, that NH₄F enables volatilization of the alumina matrix formed by hydrolysis from the chloride salt and interfering in a gas phase via the formation of AlF₃ which could be, in contrast to aluminium oxide, removed from the graphite furnace during the pyrolysis stage. Using the proposed chemical modifier, the direct and accurate determination of Sn in aqua regia extracts from rocks, soils and sediments is possible even when using matrix free standard solutions. This presumption was confirmed by the analysis of certified reference samples and by the comparison with inductively coupled plasma time of flight mass spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS) method. Characteristic mass and LOD value for the original sample (10-μL aliquots of sample) was 17 pg and 0.055 μg g⁻¹, respectively.     

On-line coupling of electrochemical preconcentration in tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for determination of lead in natural waters

A flow injection system was coupled to a tungsten coil electrothermal atomizer (150 W) for on-line separation and preconcentration of lead based on its electrochemical reduction on the atomizer surface. The electrochemical cell is built up inside the furnace by using a Pt flow-through anode and the atomizer itself as the flow-through cathode. The manifold and the tungsten coil power supply were controlled by a computer running a program written in Visual Basic, which was utilized in synchronism with the original software of the atomic absorption spectrometer. The flow-through anode (50 mm long, 0.7 mm i.d.) was inserted in tip of the autosampler arm by replacing the last section of the PTFE sample delivering tube. The tungsten coil atomizer and the counter electrode were easily connected to a d.c. power supply. An enrichment factor of 25 was obtained for lead after a 120-s electrodeposition for a sample flowing at 1.0 ml min⁻¹. The method detection limit was 0.2 μg l⁻¹ Pb and the R.S.D.<5% (n=10 for 5 μg l⁻¹ Pb). Up to 2% m/v NaCl or KCl and 5% m/v CaCl₂ or MgCl₂ did not interfere on the separation and atomization of 5 μg l⁻¹ Pb.     

Determination of lead in blood by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of lead in blood using a tungsten coil atomizer is described. A 100 μl volume of the whole blood sample is transferred to a sampler cup containing 100 μl of water plus 300 μl of 0.25% v/v Triton X-100. After lysis of blood cells, 500 μl of 10% w/v trichloroacetic acid is added for protein precipitation and 10 μl of the supernatant solution is automatically delivered into the tungsten coil. The furnace heating program is implemented in 41 s. It is shown by the paired t-test that there is no significant difference at the 5% probability level between results obtained by the proposed method and by using a transversely heated graphite atomizer with a longitudinal Zeeman background correction. Accuracy is also assessed by employing reference materials. The proposed tungsten coil procedure presents a characteristic mass of 15 pg Pb and a detection limit of 1.9 μg Pb dl⁻¹.     

Effects of side-chains ofN-acetylamino acids on the structures of their triphenyltin(IV) complexes

Triphenyltin(IV) complexes ofN-acetylglycine,N-acetyl-L-leucine,N-acetyl-L-asparagine andN-acetyl-L-tyrosine were prepared by two methods and characterized by means of different spectroscopic methods (FTIR, multinuclear,¹H,¹³C and¹¹⁹Sn NMR and¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer). The spectroscopic data indicated that theN-acetylglycine complex adopts a trigonal-bipyramidal structure in which the monodentate carboxylate and the amide-C=O group are bound to the same organotin(IV) moiety. The other three complexes are linear oligomers in which the planar Ph₃Sn(IV) is coordinated axially by a monodentate carboxylate and an amide-C=O from two different ligands. At theC-terminal end of the oligomer chain there is a tetracoordinated tin(IV) with a monodentate carboxylate as donor group.     

Simultaneous determination of L-arginine and 12 molecules participating in its metabolic cycle by gradient RP-HPLC method: application to human urine samples

We have developed and described a highly sensitive, accurate and precise reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of l-arginine and 12 molecules participating in its metabolic cycle in human urine samples. After pre-column derivatization with ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) reagent containing 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA), the fluorescent derivatives were separated by a gradient elution and detected by fluorescence measurement at 338 nm (excitation) and 455 nm (emission). l-Arginine (ARG) and its metabolites: l-glutamine (GLN), N^G-hydroxy-l-arginine (NOHA), l-citrulline (CIT), N^G-monomethyl-l-arginine (NMMA), l-homoarginine (HARG), asymmetric N^G,N^G-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA), symmetric N^G,N^G′-dimethyl-l-arginine (SDMA), l-ornithine (ORN), putrescine (PUT), agmatine (AGM), spermidine (SPERMD) and spermine (SPERM) were extracted in a cation-exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) column and after derivatization separated in a Purospher^® STAR RP-18e analytical column. The calibration curves of analysed compounds are linear within the range of concentration: 45-825, 0.2-15, 16-225, 12-285, 0.1-32, 15-235, 0.1-12, 0.1-12, 10-205, 0.02-12, 0.1-24, 0.01-10 and 0.01-8 nmol mL⁻¹ for GLN, NOHA, CIT, ARG, NMMA, HARG, ADMA, SDMA, ORN, PUT, AGM, SPERMD and SPERM, respectively. The correlation coefficients are greater than 0.9980. Coefficients of variation are not higher than 6.0% for inter-day precision. The method has been determined or tested for limits of detection and quantification, linearity, precision, accuracy and recovery. All detection parameters of the method demonstrate that it is a reliable and efficient means of the comprehensive determination of ARG and its 12 main metabolites, making this approach suitable for routine clinical applications. The levels of analysed compounds in human urine can be successfully determined using this developed method with no matrix effect.     

Bestimmung von zink in salzsäure,galliumarsenid und galliumaluminiumarsenid durch flammenlose atomabsorption

A home-made AAS-instrument and a home-made carbon-rod atomizer are described. The instrumental parameters were optimized. The influence of the matrix on the sensitivity, and the reasons for non-specific absorption are discussed. The detection limit of the method is 2–25 × 10^?11g or 3–20 ppM relative to 1 ml of 1M hydrochloric acid or 2.5–30 ppm relative to 0.1–1 mg of gallium arsenide.     

Flow injection analysis for glucose and urea with enzyme reactors and on-line dialysis

A flow injection system for glucose and urea determination is described. The glucose determination uses immobilized glucose oxidase in a reactor designed to give 100% substrate conversion. The hydrogen peroxide formed is converted to a coloured complex with 4-aminophenazone and N,N-dimethylaniline. The coupling is catalysed by a reactor containing immobilized peroxidase. The coloured complex is measured in a flow-through spectrophotometric cell. Urea is converted to ammonia in a reactor with immobilized urease and detected with an ammonia gas membrane electrode. Proteins and other interfering species from serum samples are removed in an on-line dialyzer. Calibration curves are linear for glucose in the range 1.6 × 10^-4–1.6 × 10^-2 M and for urea in the range 10^-4–10^-1 M. The samples are 25 μl for glucose determination and 100 μl for urea determination. Linear ranges can be changed by varying the sample sizes. The effects of the dialyser, enzyme reactors and detectors on dispersion are evaluated.