Comparison of digestion procedures for the determination of mercury in soils by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

Five digestion procedures were investigated for the determination of mercury in soils by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. These methods included three acid leaching procedures in open systems and two acid digestion procedures in closed decomposition vessels. The closed vessels were heated in a conventional laboratory oven or a laboratory microwave oven. In the open systems, digestion with concentrated acids at elevated temperatures led to considerable losses of (organo) mercury compounds, while digestion at ambient temperature gave incomplete oxidation of the sample matrix. To prevent any losses of mercury and to obtain complete oxidation, the use of a closed decomposition system at elevated temperatures appeared to be necessary. The results obtained with these closed systems were in good agreement with those obtained by neutron activation analysis. Heating in a microwave oven appeared to be a considerable improvement over conventional thermal heating.     

The determination of arsenic and selenium in coal by continuous flow hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Concentrated perchloric acid is used to digest coal for subsequent determination of arsenic and selenium by hydride-generation atomic absorption and fluorescence spectrometry. Arsenic and selenium are removed from potentially interfering metal ions by coprecipitation with lanthanum hydroxide. The detection limits, 58 and 36 ng g^?1 by atomic absorption and 25 and 10 ng g^?1 by atomic fluorescence, for arsenic and selenium in coal, respectively, are adequate for the normal levels of these metals.     

Comparison of two digestion procedures for the determination of lead in lichens by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The efficiency of two procedures for the digestion of lichen was investigated using a heating block and a microwave oven. In the open vessels, concentrated nitric acid was added to the samples, left for 1 h, and the addition of 30% (v / v) hydrogen peroxide completed the digestion. In the closed system, the complete digestion was performed using concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, reducing the amount of chemicals, time and contamination risk. Both digestion methods gave comparable results, and recoveries were statistically not different. For a lichen sample spiked with 10 μg Pb, the recovery was 111% and 110% using microwave and heating block digestion, respectively, while it was 100% and 103% for a 100 μg Pb spike. For the determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry samples were diluted 20 times with water and a volume of 20 μL was injected into the graphite furnace without chemical modifier. Pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of 700 °C and 1500 °C, respectively, were used. The characteristic mass was 8.4 ± 0.6 pg for aqueous calibration solutions and 8.9 ± 0.8 pg for samples. Calibration was against matrix matched standards. The recovery test showed some contamination problem with the lowest concentrations in both procedures. The detection limits were 4.4 μg L^− 1 with microwave oven and 5.4 μg L^− 1 with the heating block in the undiluted blank.     

Determination of arsenic in steel and cast iron by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure is described for the determination of arsenic in steel and cast iron by atomic absorption spectrometry after hydride generation with sodium tetrahydroborate. The samples are decomposed with a nitric/perchloric acid mixture. The data are evaluated directly against acidic standard solutions of arsenic(V). The limit of detection is about 1 μg g^?1 and the precision is better than 4% for concentrations exceeding 10 μg g^?1.     

Evaluation of digestion procedures for the determination of iron and zinc in biscuits by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An evaluation is made of different digestion methods for the determination of iron and zinc in biscuits prior to flame atomic absorption analysis. For the initial studies, microwave digestion was enough (using hydrogen chloride and nitric acid 3:1, v/v, at 180 °C and 600 W) to provide comparable accuracy, precision, digestion time and non-critical handling of reagents to dry-ashing and wet digestion (using different acid mixtures) and also to a simple acid treatment at room temperature. Although, after a simple microwave digestion, the spiked recoveries were found around 96–102%, to reduce the digestion time and for simplicity we worked on wet acid treatments. The results showed that acid-only treatment is not enough to digest the samples without adding ethanol, which was found necessary to digest organic residue at room temperature. The method was validated by comparison of the data found for commercial biscuit samples through using the proposed procedure and the AOAC official reference spectrophotometric method. Fe concentration in the different biscuits (such as petit beurre, baby biscuits, etc.) ranged from 1.21 to 15.96 mg/100 g while Zn concentration ranged from 0.58 to 2.50 mg/100 g depending on biscuit type. The highest concentration of Fe was in baby biscuits and these biscuits were about thirteen times richer in Fe than petit beurre biscuits.     

A simple acid digestion method for the determination of ten elements in ambient aerosols by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is presented for multi-element determinations in ambient aerosols collected on Whatman 41 filter paper. Subsections of filters are exposed to vapor phase attack by nitric and hydrofluoric acids, and complete dissolution is accomplished by a mixture of nitric and perchloric acids at high temperatures in quartz tubes. The residue is taken up in dilute nitric acid and processed directly by standard additions with a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The method was tested on NBS Coal Fly Ash, SRM 1633, and found to yield accurate results.     

Determination of total inorganic arsenic in water using on-line pre-concentration and hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method for the on-line separation and pre-concentration of inorganic arsenic in water samples is described. The analyte in the pentavalent oxidation state is reduced to its trivalent form with l-cysteine and the total inorganic arsenic is sorbed onto activated alumina in the acid form in a mini-column coupled to a FI-HG AAS system. Afterwards, it is eluted with 3 mol l⁻¹ HCl. An enrichment factor of 7 was obtained, allowing an analytical flow rate of about 28 determinations per hour. The limits of detection (3σ) and of quantification (10σ) were calculated as LOD = 0.15 μg l⁻¹ of As and LOQ = 0.5 μg l⁻¹ of As, respectively. Relative standard deviations (n = 10) less than 8% were obtained for different arsenic concentrations and the accuracy was verified by analysing certified reference materials. Different kinds of samples, such as mineral water, drinking water, river water and natural spring water were analyzed and good agreement was obtained with the values from spiked experiments.     

Investigations on atomization mechanisms in hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary Experiments are carried out where hydrides are collected in a cold trap, revolatilized, and conducted into a heated quartz tube with a controlled stream of pure or mixed gases. In the presence of hydrogen, atomization proceeds via hydrogen radicals formed in the quartz tube in a rather restricted area. Lifetime of the analyte atoms is at least three orders of magnitude longer than that of the H radicals. In the absence of hydrogen the hydrides are thermally decomposed but only in part atomized. The species formed during the thermal decomposition, probably an oxide and/or the element, are retained in the heated quartz tube to essentially 100%. The deposited species can be re-volatilized and atomized in part when hydrogen enters the heated quartz tube at a later time.

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Untersuchungen über Atomisierungsmechanismen in der Hydrid-Atomabsorptionsspektrometrie

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Versuche durchgeführt, bei denen die Hydride in einer Kühlfalle gesammelt, wieder verflüchtigt und mit einer kontrollierten Strömung reiner oder gemischter Gase in ein beheiztes Quarzrohr geleitet werden. In Gegenwart von Wasserstoff erfolgt die Atomisierung über H-Radikale, die sich in einer begrenzten Zone in dem Quarzrohr bilden. Die Lebensdauer der Analytatome ist mindestens drei Größenordnungen länger als die der H-Radikale. In Abwesenheit von Wasserstoff werden die Hydride thermisch zersetzt, aber nur teilweise atomisiert. Die bei der thermischen Zersetzung gebildete Substanz, wahrscheinlich ein Oxid oder das Element, verbleibt praktisch zu 100% in dem beheizten Quarzrohr. Die abgelagerte Substanz kann teilweise wieder verflüchtigt und atomisiert werden, sobald Wasserstoff in das beheizte Quarzrohr gelangt

     

Direct determination of arsenic in blood serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of arsenic in human blood serum is described. To suppress loss of arsenic by volatilization anal to remove chemical interferences in graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, the formation of involatile compounds with graphite, or with a matrix modifier is tested. With aqueous solutions, two sorts of interactions between graphite and arsenic are shown. But, in presence of serum, these interactions do not occur, Among 18 matrix modifiers tested, nickel gives the best sensitivity when used at high concentrations in the presence of Triton X-100. The proposed method allows direct arsenic determination, based on calibration with aqueous solutions. The method is applied to the serum of 20 normal subjects. The limit of detection is 0.4 μg l^?1 arsenic.     

Comparison of different chemical modifiers for the direct determination of arsenic in sea water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A comparative study of different chemical modifiers for the direct determination of arsenic in real and in synthetic sea water samples of high (72.8 per thousand ) and low (34.2 per thousand ) salinity was carried out. The use of lanthanum chloride and magnesium nitrate (LOD=3.0 microg l(-1)) offers good recoveries for low salinities, while for high salinities an enhancement higher than 200% was obtained, rendering this method unsuitable for sea water samples. The use of silver nitrate (LOD=2.0 microg l(-1)) produces unfavourable analytical recoveries, around 150 and 300% for synthetic sea water of low and high salinity. Zirconium oxychloride (LOD=1.8 microg l(-1)) and palladium nitrate alone or combined with magnesium nitrate and reducing agents (LOD=1.1-1.3 microg l(-1)) produce analytical recoveries close to 100% for all arsenic concentration tried over all salinities; thus, a single calibration curve using aqueous standard solutions may be applied to the analysis of sea water samples over all salinities. Finally, the addition of reducing agents and magnesium nitrate to palladium does not improve the sensitivity.     

Comparison of different chemical modifiers for the direct determination of arsenic in sea water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A comparative study of different chemical modifiers for the direct determination of arsenic in real and in synthetic sea water samples of high (72.8) and low (34.2) salinity was carried out. The use of lanthanum chloride and magnesium nitrate (LOD=3.0 gl^-1) offers good recoveries for low salinities, while for high salinities an enhancement higher than 200% was obtained, rendering this method unsuitable for sea water samples. The use of silver nitrate (LOD=2.0 gl^-1) produces unfavourable analytical recoveries, around 150 and 300% for synthetic sea water of low and high salinity. Zirconium oxychloride (LOD=1.8 gl^-1) and palladium nitrate alone or combined with magnesium nitrate and reducing agents (LOD=1.1–1.3 gl^-1) produce analytical recoveries close to 100% for all arsenic concentration tried over all salinities; thus, a single calibration curve using aqueous standard solutions may be applied to the analysis of sea water samples over all salinities. Finally, the addition of reducing agents and magnesium nitrate to palladium does not improve the sensitivity.     

Solvent extraction procedures for the differential determination of arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) species by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Arsenic(III) can be extracted quantitatively from acidic media with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and with diethyldithiophosphoric acid (HDEDTP). Arsenic-(V) can only be extracted after preliminary reduction to the trivalent state. Potassium iodide or a mixture of hydrogensulphite/thiosulphate is recommended. When the extraction is done once with and once without addition of reducing agent, the arsenic(III) and the arsenic(V) contents can be differentiated. Some bottled mineral waters were analyzed. All the arsenic present appears to be in the pentavalent state.     

Evolved-gas zeeman flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of arsenic compounds

An evolved-gas separation/flame Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometric approach is demonstrated for the speciation and determination of arsenic in oyster tissue. No digestion is needed and separation of inorganic arsenic compounds having similar boiling points is achieved. A stoichiometric or air-rich acetylene/air flame for atomic absorption spectrometry is not generally suitable for arsenic determination because of severe ultraviolet absorption interference at 193.7 nm and low sensitivity; polarized flame Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometry with a fuel-rich flame is suitable for the detection of traces of arsenic. The evolved-gas separation/Zeeman atomic absorption approach is simple, based on commercially available instrumentation, and useful for the selective determination of major arsenic compounds. Data are given to demonstrate optimal conditions and to show application to oyster tissue.     

Determination of inorganic arsenic in marine food samples by hydrochloric acid distillation and flow-injection hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

A simple, rapid, and reliable method was developed for determination of inorganic As in biological samples such as fish fillet. Inorganic AS was distilled from the sample as AsCl3 with HCl. The separated inorganic AS was determined by flow-injection hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry after prereduction with KI and HCl. The influences of various concentrations of KI, ascorbic acid, and HCl in the prereduction stage; NaBH4 as the reductant; and HCl as the carrier solution on analytical results were studied. Digestion was performed in a Kjeldahl digestion system for 75 min with 4 mL nitric acid and 1 mL sulfuric acid at 380 degrees C. The concentrations of inorganic As in samples were less than 0.1 mg/kg dry weight for fish fillet and somewhat higher for crustaceans and bivalve molluscs. The total and inorganic As contents of various marine biological samples and certified reference materials were determined.     

Iron(III) as releasing agent for copper interference in the determination of selenium by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Iron(III0 has a very effective releasing effect on the depressive interference from copper(II) on the determination of selenium by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry. In solutionwith 100 mg 1^?1 Cu(II), 10 μg 1^?1 Se(IV) and 2.0 mol l^?1 HCl, the absorbance obtained was much higher when 8 g 1^?1 Fe(III) was added than for any earlier releasing agent.     

Comparison of wet microwave digestion methods of plant materials for the determination of metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Microwave closed-system wet digestion procedures for plant samples were examined. Each procedure was tested with samples of tobacco and cabbage, and included digestion by the use of different acids composition, almost complete evaporation of the digest, and then dissolution of the residue in 1% nitric acid. Three microwave digestion programs that varied power, duration, and temperature were used. Closed-vessel reactions followed open-vessel reaction-delay time. Using flame atomic absorption spectrometry on the digests, four or five elements were determined to evaluate effectiveness, precision and accuracy of analytes extraction into solution. After a preliminary study of tobacco digests, the four most effective procedures were chosen, and detailed investigations were carried out on both tobacco and cabbage reference materials. Although all four of the final procedures were accurate, the most precise procedure, with the lowest errors of determination, was using reverse ‘aqua regia’ for tobacco and ‘aqua regia’ for cabbage.     

Assessment of three digestion procedures for Zn contents in Pakistani soil by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Evaluation of three different digestion procedures for accurate determination of elemental concentration in soils was undertaken. The digestion procedures, two leaching and a total dissolution processes were compared for twenty-one soil samples. The soil standard reference materials (SRMs), IAEA Soil-5 and IAEA Soil-7 were analysed for quality control purposes. Zinc (Zn) was analysed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Precise analysis was accomplished in the SRM and soil samples, which was better than 4.7% for leaching and total dissolution procedure. Compared with the elemental concentration in soil samples, HF–HClO₄ procedure achieved greater accuracy, where as HNO₃–H₂O₂ and HNO₃–H₂SO₄–HCl procedures were comparable with slight variation in a few samples.     

The deterioration of closed silica tubes in hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Under the conditions normally encountered in hydride evolution for atomic absorption spectrometry, devitrification of quartz to β-cristobalite occurs. For selenium, this devitrification is detrimental to the analytical characteristics of the method. Analytical performance and the life-span of the atomizer can be dramatically improved by the use of sulfuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid in the generation medium. An attempt is made to explain the deterioration and its possible influence on the atomization of hydrogen selenide.     

Arsine generation and determination of trace amounts of arsenic by atomic absorption spectrometry

Arsenic can be determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after reduction to arsine with potassium iodide, tin(II) chloride and zinc powder tablet; the arsine generated is carried into an argon-hydrogen flame by means of argon. Accuracy, precision and speed are satisfactory. Serious interferences arise only from nitric acid, lead, chromium and selenium.