Spectral interferences and background overcompensation in zeeman-corrected atomic absorption spectrometry : Part 1. The effect of iron on 30 elements and 49 element lines

The background compensation performance of a Zeeman corrector with the magnetic field acting on the graphite atomization cell was assessed for 30 elements and 49 element lines in an iron matrix. Two of the elements studied, gallium and zinc, are influenced by background overcompensation which introduces serious negative systematic errors. The overcompensation is due to the presence of iron lines close to the 287.4-nm gallium line and the 213.9-nm zinc line; when the magnetic field is on, the σ-components of the adjacent iron lines overlap at the position of the analyte line and a background, which is not present when the magnetic field is off, is recorded. When gallium and zinc are measured under the same conditions but with deuterium arc background correction, the adjacent iron lines cause positive systematic errors. These spectral interferences for gallium in the presence of iron can be avoided by doing the measurements at the 294.4-nm gallium line; the two lines have about the same sensitivity. When zinc is to be measured at the 213.9-nm line, with either type of background correction, the spectral interferences from iron can be avoided by careful selection of the graphite-furnace parameters. In addition to spectral interferences, iron also affects the sensitivity for both gallium and zinc.     

Determination of phosphorus in steel with a stabilized-temperature graphite furnace and zeeman-corrected atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of phosphorus in steel by graphite furnace a.a.s. is plagued by a spectral interference from the iron matrix which results in overcompensation when a continuum-source background corrector is used. Zeeman background correction using an alternating transverse magnetic field at the furnace eliminates this problem and allows a routine determination of phosphorus down to 0.002% in steel. Lanthanum is an effective matrix modifier for the phosphorus determination, but its enhancing effect depends largely upon the tube material used and the sample matrix. A 0.2% lanthanum solution was found to be optimum. The stabilized-temperature platform furnace concept allows an interference-free determination of phosphorus in steel, down to 0.002%, directly against aqueous standards. Atomizing the sample from a pyrolytic graphite platform in an uncoated graphite tube provides the optimum environment for a phosphorus determination.     

Silver as a test element for Zeeman furnace AAS

Silver was studied as a candidate element to test the stability of graphite furnace performance. Several problems were found, but when these were controlled the instrumental performance was quite stable and reproducible. When the Ag line at 328.1 nm was used with a matrix containing phosphate and a metal, a small spectral interference was produced when Zeeman background correction was used. The interference appeared to result from Zeeman splitting of PO bands that overlapped the 328.1-nm line from the source. Since phosphate had been recommended as a matrix modifier for Ag, this could be a serious problem. Both Pd and Cu are shown to be preferable to phosphate as a matrix modifier for Ag, especially with Zeeman corrected instruments.     

ICP-AES法测定金合金首饰中铱元素分析谱线研究

采用电感藕合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP-AES)对金基体溶液中的Ir进行测试,分析讨论了国家标准GB/T21198.4-2007和美国热电Thermo IRIS Intrepid II型ICP光谱仪推荐的几种Ir谱线在金基体中的干扰问题.综合谱线强度、灵敏度、标准曲线相关系数、光强值、干扰谱线位置等因素,确定212.681 nm是该型ICP光谱仪测定金首饰中Ir元素的最佳谱线.     

Line absorption of matrix elements as a background correction error in atomic absorption spectrometry

Accurate measurement of weak atomic absorption signals is only possible after exact background correction. If the accompanying elements in excess have their own resonance lines in the immediate vicinity of the resonance line of the element to be determined,and these fall within the spectral band transmitted by the monochromator, then the value the measured apparent background absorbance is higher than the true one. The error may usually be diminished by choosing an appropriate spectral bandwidth. Tables of such bandwidths for a large number of pairs of elements are given.     

微波消解–电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定DD6单晶合金中铝、铬、钴

建立电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定DD6单晶高温合金中铝、铬、钴元素含量的方法。采用密闭微波消解法对样品进行前处理,利用模拟溶液分别考察基体元素和共存元素的光谱干扰及非光谱干扰对测定结果的影响,确定了铝、铬、钴的分析谱线分别为394.401,267.716,228.616 nm,通过基体匹配法对非光谱干扰进行补偿。待测元素在各自的质量浓度范围内与光谱强度呈良好的线性关系,相关系数均为0.9999,铝、铬、钴的检出限分别为0.110,0.018,0.003 μg/mL。测定结果的相对标准偏差为0.99%~1.21%(n=11),铝、铬、钴的加标回收率在分别为96.45%~103.69%,98.20%~99.40%,100.22%~102.85%。该方法简便、快速,具有较高的准确度,适用于镍基单晶高温合金中铝、铬、钴元素的测定。     

On the direct analysis of solid samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary We have studied some limitations of the solid sampling, cup-in-tube technique by comparison with a constant temperature two-step atomiser and found consistently lower vapour-phase temperatures and greater interferences in the former. With the former, higher vapour-phase temperatures and improved analytical results for lead and cadmium were found using Pd(NO₃)₂+Mg(NO₃)₂ instead of NH₄H₂PO₄+Mg(NO₃)₂ as modifier. Investigations of methods to extend the useful calibration range revealed reduced vapour-phase temperatures in the presence of a convective gas flow during atomisation, and a greater potential for errors using non-resonance lines. With respect to the latter, the absorbance signal is much more sensitive to matrix induced changes in the temperature interval in which atoms are formed compared to resonance lines. Furthermore, at the lead 261.4 nm non-resonance line we observed overcompensation errors caused by cobalt when using a Zeeman-effect system, and undercorrection due to the AlCl(g) molecule with a continuum source background corrector.     

Investigation of hydroxyl-mediated spectral interference from easily ionized elements in laser-enhanced ionization spectrometry in the 281–285 nm range

The spectral background from 281 to 285 nm in the laser-enhanced ionization (LEI) spectrum of aqueous samples containing easily ionized elements (EIE) at concentrations similar to those found in blood was investigated. A complex, structured spectral background was observed, which appears in the presence of Na or K, but does not match the spectral signature of either element. The same behavior was also observed for Li. It was established that this background originates from an energy transfer between laser-excited hydroxyl (OH) molecules and ground-state EIEs. The intensity of this spectral feature was found to increase with EIE concentration and applied electrode voltage. This unexpected source of spectral interference may complicate the determination of trace metals by LEI in the presence of EIEs, since it can not be prevented by simply avoiding interference from atomic lines.     

Baseline shifts in inverse Zeeman-effect graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry ascribed to the Zeeman effect of the CN molecule

The background-corrected Zeeman absorbance baseline shows shifts for lines of several hollow cathode lamps up to tenths of an absorbance unit with firings of an empty graphite furnace atomiser and clear differences in the sizes of the shifts according to whether the furnace is purged with nitrogen or argon. Baseline shifts are seen for hollow cathode lines close to listed rotation lines of the (0,0) and higher bands of the CN violet system. Such shifts, it is suggested, are caused by overlap of the hollow cathode lines with Zeeman-shifted CN lines and in support of this suggestion the known behaviour of CN lines in magnetic fields (spin doublet contraction) is cited. Evidence is presented for the existence of interfering CN lines near the main atomic absorption line of Cr (357.9 nm), as a spectral interference occurs in both the inverse Zeeman configuration (with lamps containing iron) and with continuum source correction.     

Gas chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry — a sensitive instrumentation for mercury speciation

New instrumentation for the speciation of mercury is described, and is applied to the analysis of natural water samples. The separation of mercury species is effected using gas chromatography of derivatized mercury species on a widebore capillary column. The solvent is vented using a bypass valve and the separated mercury species are pyrolysed on-line at 800°C for production of mercury atoms. These are then detected by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) at the 253.7 and 184.9 nm lines simultaneously in a quartz cuvette. The use of the 184.9 nm line provides a more than five-fold increase in sensitivity compared with the conventional 253.7 nm line and an absolute detection limit of 0.5 pg of mercury. The dynamic range of the combined analytical lines provides a linear response over more than three orders of magnitude. A number of organic compounds not containing mercury are also detected following pyrolysis, especially at the 184.9 nm line. These background species must not co-elute at the retention times for methyl- and inorganic mercury, as otherwise a positive interference would result. By maximizing the chromatographic resolution and minimizing the band broadening in the cuvette by use of a make-up gas, the retention times of interest are freed from co-eluting background peaks.The instrumentation has been applied to the determination of ng l⁻¹ concentrations of methyl- and inorganic mercury in Lake Constance, Germany and within the Lake Constance drinking water supply organization, Bodenseewasserversorgung (BWV). The accuracy for the sum of methyl- and inorganic mercury has been assessed by comparison with an independent method for total mercury based on AAS detection implemented at BWV. Relative detection limits using 1 litre water samples and 15 ml injections of the final hexane extract were 0.03 ng l⁻¹ for methylmercury and 0.4 ng l⁻¹ for inorganic mercury based on the 3j criterion.     

ICP-AES法测定1J22软磁材料中的锰、硅、镍、铜、钒

用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪(ICP)测定软磁材料1J22中的锰、硅、镍、铜、钒.通过试验选择了适宜的测试条件,针对1J22软磁材料中常见元素对锰、硅、镍、铜、钒谱线的光谱干扰选择了合适的分析谱线,并进行了精密度和准确度试验.选用Mn 257. 610 nm、Si 251. 611 nm、Ni 351. 505 nm、Cu 224. 700 nm、V 292. 402 nm为分析线时.合成溶液的回收率为92. 0%～114. O%,RSD为0. 33%～7. 73%(n=6).本方法适合1J22软磁材料中锰、硅、镍、铜、钒元素的测定.     

Application of light guides on the PLASMAQUANT-110 ICP spectrometer — Analytical capabilities and analytical performance

Summary On a high-aperture, high-resolution Echelle spectrometer individual fibre light guides are used to transmit the spectral light from the focal plane to the detectors. For this purpose, 132 light guides are arranged behind an exit slit mask. These light guides transmit the light of the spectral lines of 70 elements. The application of light guides provides numerous advantages for analytical program changes and extensions and enables fast survey analyses. Thoroughly chosen fibre types and precise arrangement of light guides are the prerequisites for a good analytical performance which — beside reproducibilities of lines and background as well as detection limits — is exemplified by the spectral resolution of boron and iron lines as well as of the iron triplet at 310 nm.     

Interferences in inverse zeeman-corrected atomic absorption spectrometry caused by zeeman splitting of molecules

Orthophosphoric acid was vaporized in the graphite furnace of an inverse Zeeman-corrected atomic absorption spectrometer and the performance of the background corrector system was studied at some analyte lines in the wavelength region where the species PO is known to have strong band systems. The investigation revealed cases of both over- and under-compensation probably caused by Zeeman splitting of PO rotational lines.     

Atomic emission spectrometry with an induction-coupled high-frequency plasma source: The determination of iodine,mercury, arsenic and selenium

The application of an inductively coupled high-frequency plasma source to the determination of iodine, mercury, arsenic and selenium by atomic emission spectrometry at wavelengths less than 200 nm is described. Optimal conditions have been established, and the spectral interference effects at different atomic lines for each element have been investigated. With the type of instrumentation employed, the determination of iodine at 183.04 nm, mercury at 184.96 nm, arsenic at 189.0 nm and selenium at 196.09 nm is recommended to minimize spectral interferences. No chemical or physical interferences resulting from the influence of foreign ions on the solute vaporization process have been noted.     

ICP–AES法测定低合金钢中的微量硼

采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP–AES)测定低合金钢中硼元素的含量。采用密闭微波消解法对样品进行溶解,考察了铁基体元素和共存元素对硼元素测定的影响,确定了硼元素的分析线为208.959 nm,通过基体匹配消除基体的影响。硼的质量浓度在0~5.00μg/m L范围内与谱线强度呈良好的线性,相关系数r2=0.999 9,方法检出限为0.004μg/m L,加标回收率为96%~103%,测定结果的相对标准偏差为1.5%~2.9%(n=8)。该方法具有较高的灵敏度和准确度,满足低合金钢中硼元素的分析要求。     

Changes in plasma characteristics caused by easily ionisable elements in hollow cathode discharge emission spectrography

The effect of several concomitant easily ionisable elements (EIE's), Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs on the line intensity of Sr II (first ionised state) and Al I and He I (atomic states) has been studied by atomic emission spectrometry (AES) hollow cathode (HCD) analysis. The spectral line intensities emitted by Sr II, Al I and He I have been measured while varying the volume of the EIE's concentrations, ranging from 0.1 mg ml to 10 mg ml. In the presence of EIE's at higher concentrations than 0.5% a considerable decrease of the line intensities of Sr II at 430.54 nm and 407.71 nm was observed, together with a gradual decrease in the line intensities of both Al I 494.40 nm and 396.15 nm, and He I 412.1 nm. It is demonstrated in the present experiments with a water-cooled HCD source that interference effects caused by EIE's are observed when the ratio of the number of gas atoms (n(g)) and atoms with low ionisation energy (n(a))n(g)/n(a)is lower than 10(12).     

Spectral Interference in Antimony Analysis with High Temperature Furnace Atomic Absorption

Abstract

Background correction in atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a high temperature furnace has a close relation to the chemical treatment and the detection limit. Conventionally used for this correction is the D₂ lamp method, but spectral interference is inevitable in this method because the spectral bandwidth of the light from the D₂ lamp after passing through a monochromator is as wide as 0.1 to 5 nm. In the analysis of Sb in lead alloy or in steel, there is spectral interference due to high concentration of elements such as Pb, Cu or Fe, in the matrix, so accurate measurement is impossible unless these elements are removed at the pretreatment stage.

In polarized analyte Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometry developed by the authors, the wavelength of the measuring beam is the same as that of the reference and they are identical in spectral line profile as well as in geometrical shape. They differ only in the direction of polarization. For these reasons, we found that there is no spectral interference like that recognized in the D₂ lamp correction technique. As a result, a direct analysis was done simply by dissolving gunmetal or steel in acid without removing the matrix elements Pb, Cu or Fe.     

Spectral interferences in the determination of traces of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in “pure” rare earth matrices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry—II: Praseodymium and samarium

This paper is the second part of a series of papers dealing with mutual spectral interferences of rare earth elements (REEs) in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The present article covers: (a) the spectral data of praseodymium and samarium interferents for 200 pm wide windows centred (± 100 pm) about prominent lines of scandium, yttrium and REEs; (b) the data base of Q values for line interference (Q₁) and Q values for (wing) background interference (Q_w); and (c) the detection limits measured by using the “true detection limit” criterion as proposed by Boumans and vrakking [Spectrochim. Acta 42B, 819 (1987); 43B, 69 (1988)]. The lines with the lowest values of true detection limits for praseodymium and samarium matrices were chosen for analysis. This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), the electronic section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hardcopy text is accompanied by a disk with data and text files. The data files comprise in particular the tabular material of this article in electronic form.     

Determination of As in environmental solid matrix

In line with recent European environmental guidelines on biomasses, one of the most important parameters to take into account is the As concentration, especially when present in biomasses and complex matrices. The goal of the present study is to give information about possible technical-analytical problems during the determinations of such elements by means of different instrumental spectroscopy techniques, in particular inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption (AAS), using two different wavelengths, 188.98 nm and 193.70 nm.In the Laboratory of Hygiene of National Institute of Health in Italy, a specific study has been carried out concerning the determination of As contents in environmental solid matrices, using as reference material BCR 141 R, represented by a calcareous soil. In particular, whereas recovery tests did not show particular drawbacks, difficulties were met in the As detection in reference material. Spectral interference was seen during determination by ICP-AES and matrix interference during determination by AAS, in particular using ETAAS with deuterium background correction and HAAS. Using ETAAS with Zeeman background correction at 193.70 nm, the As line did not show particular matrix interference during the reading of samples.A ring test involving two more laboratories and another certified reference material (IAEA-356 in marine sediment matrix) produced important information about problems of under/over estimation of data. Two different instrumental techniques, ICP-MS and HAAS, confirmed previous data, i.e., overestimation for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and that As values achieved by HAAS were of the same order as the references, but affected by considerable standard deviation.In the light of this study, data achieved on the environmental matrices investigated suggest that the critical step in As determination is the instrumental reading, rather than the mineralization process. Further, each of the methods proposed, apart from ETAAS with Zeeman background correction, presents its own peculiar drawbacks and no particular advantage over other techniques.     

Spectral interferences in the determination of traces of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in “pure” rare earth matrices by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: Part VII — Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium and Thulium

This article is the seventh part of a series of papers discussing the spectral interferences of rare earth elements (REEs) in ICP-AES. Radial viewing 27.12 MHz inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used in the determination of scandium, yttrium and rare earth elements in Tb₂O₃, Dy₂O₃, Ho₂O₃ and Tm₂O₃ as “pure” rare earth matrices. The quantification of the interferences in terms of Q-values for line interference Q_I(_a) and wing background interference Q_W(Δλ_a) were used in accordance with Boumans and Vrakking [Spectrochim. Acta Part B 43 (1988) 69]. The “best” analysis lines from point of view of spectral interferences were selected. The true detection limits by using the “best” analysis lines were calculated.