Effects of various salts on the determination of arsenic by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Direct determination in seawater

The effect of Na, Mg, Ca and Sr as their nitrate, chloride and sulfate salts and seasalt, with and without the use of palladium, on the determination of arsenic by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was investigated. In the absence of any stabilizing agent, arsenic was partially lost as molecular species at low temperatures. The effect of salts on the shape of the atomization signal, the integrated absorbance and the stabilizing effect were highly dependent both on their nature and mass. By trapping arsenic, oxide species resulting from the decomposition of nitrate salts induced a high stabilization effect depending on their vaporization temperatures: MgO～CaO>SrO>Na₂O. The stabilization effect of chlorides occurred about 200?°C lower and depended on mass, volatility and hydrolytic properties: SrCl₂>CaCl₂>MgCl₂～NaCl. The effect of sulfates was mainly dependent on their decomposition/vaporization mechanisms, and in the presence of Na₂SO₄ or CaSO₄ a strong chemical interference effect was observed. Palladium stabilized arsenic in the presence of nitrates, chlorides or even sulfates, leading to a similar delaying effect, signal shape and integrated absorbance. Seasalt induced also important modifications to the atomization signal of As. Moreover, an interference effect was observed, which could probably be attributed to the simultaneous vaporization of sulfate in seasalt. In seawater, Pd suppressed this interference effect and permitted to use a high pyrolysis temperature up to 1400?°C to remove the major part of the seawater matrix before atomization. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit for As obtained in unmodified seawater in the presence of Pd was 0.34 μg L^–1 for a 10 μl sample.     

Interference of salts on the determination of lead by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Ion chromatographic study

The influence of various salts on the atomization signal of lead has been examined by using a transverse heated atomic absorption spectrometer. To get more information about interference mechanisms, volatilization of salts has been studied by ion chromatographic analysis of the residue left on the furnace after drying or charring. The use of a Pd/Mg chemical modifier in these model solutions has also been examined. In 0.1 M chloride medium, NaCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ do not interfere significantly. However, their different behaviour in the furnace, and particularly hydrolysis of MgCl₂ influence greatly the charring curves of Pb. The use of a Pd/Mg modifier appears interesting only in the case of NaCl. Indeed, Pd stabilizes Pb sufficiently to permit the removal of NaCl by charring. In the case of MgCl₂, Pb is not sufficiently stabilized to remove chloride through hydrolysis of MgCl₂ or volatilization of MgCl₂. In the presence of CaCl₂, the Pb signal is delayed and coincides with the background absorption signal of CaCl₂; the stabilization effect is not sufficient to eliminate CaCl₂ by charring before atomization. At 0.1 M nitrate concentration, the presence of NaNO₃, Mg(NO₃)₂, and particularly Ca(NO₃)₂, greatly modifies the atomization signal shape of Pb. Pb is more stabilized in nitrate medium, but losses are observed at the decomposition step of nitrate salts. In this medium, the stabilization effect of Pd leads to a single peak signal and permits elimination of nitrate decomposition products before atomization. Interference effects are more important in the presence of 0.1 M sulphate salts and increase with the acidity of the medium. Na₂SO₄, which is reduced to Na₂S on the graphite, does not interfere significantly. However, the decomposition products of MgSO₄ and CaSO₄ induce an important interference effect on the determination of Pb which is stabilized in the furnace. In the case of Na₂SO₄, the use of the Pd/Mg modifier delays the atomization signal which coincides with the background absorption signal, leading to an important interference effect which cannot be eliminated by charring. In the presence of MgSO₄ and CaSO₄, the stabilizing effect of Pd permits the elimination of decomposition products of sulphate salts before atomization and suppresses the chemical interference effect.     

La matrice eau de mer et le signal du cuivre en spectrometrie d'adsorption atomique sans flamme : Partie 1: Etude de l'influence des principaux composants

(Copper signals from seawater matrices in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Part 1: study of the effects of principal inorganic ions.)The effects of the main inorganic ions of seawater (Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^?, SO^2?₄), and of nitrate as modifier, on the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric signal of copper are studied. Sodium chloride, sulfate or nitrate, magnesium chloride or nitrate, and calcium chloride can cause serious interferences. Thermal treatment at about 700°C prevents the interference of MgCl₂ by its hydrolysis. Ashing can be done without loss of copper at higher temperatures in the presence of sulfate salts (1300°C) and nitrate salts (1200°C) than in the presence of chloride salts (1100°C). This is ascribed to the stabilising effect of oxides and sulfides. A study of the influence of two-component matrices, MCl-MNO₃ or MCl-MSO₄, on the atomization signal of copper confirms this stabilizing effect which adds to the decrease in interference connected with removal of chloride in acidic medium.     

Electrothermal vaporization on a tungsten filament for the determination of arsenic in chloride solutions by low-pressure helium ICP-MS.

A combined method of electrothermal vaporization and low-pressure helium ICP-MS was developed for the determination of traces of arsenic in chloride solutions, because serious spectral interference occurred in conventional argon ICP-MS. On a tungsten filament was placed 5 microl of a sample and heated electrothermally to remove the solvent. The resulting residue on the filament was covered with a vaporization chamber, and after reducing the pressure to ca. 5 Torr, it was rapidly heated by discharging a high-capacity condenser (0.22 F). The vapor of arsenic was transferred to a helium plasma with a stream of carrier gas for the determination. The background was not observed at m/z of 75, which allowed the determination of arsenic at ng/ml levels in chloride solutions. Sodium chloride significantly enhanced the intensity of the arsenic signal, whereas other chlorides, including KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2 and NH4Cl, suppressed the analytical signals. This enhancement due to sodium ions seems to be a peculiar phenomenon to the helium ICP. The proposed method can be applied to direct determinations of as low as 0.9 ng/ml of arsenic in seawater.     

Direct determination of arsenic in fresh and saline waters by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A method is described for the direct determination of arsenic in fresh and saline waters by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Arsenic could be determined directly in waters containing up to 10 000 μg ml⁻¹ NaCl without interference from the formation of ⁷⁵ArCl⁺. For non-saline waters, arsenic was determined directly with the addition to both aqueous calibration standards and samples of 0.1 μg each of Pd and Mg to act as physical carriers. For the analysis of highly saline waters, the use of Pd and Mg chemical modifier served to thermally stabilize arsenic up to a temperature of 1000°C, while the separate addition of 8 mg of ammonium nitrate was used to remove chloride from the sample. This eliminated serious spectral interference on ⁷⁵As⁺ from ⁷⁵ArCl⁺. Although the ArCl⁺ spectral interference was completely eliminated, residual Na co-volatilized with As caused signal suppression, requiring the use of the method of standard additions for calibration. An absolute limit of detection limit for As of 0.069 pg was obtained corresponding to 6.9 pg ml⁻¹ in a 10 μl sample.     

Mechanistic study of the aluminum interference in the determination of arsenic by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The interference effect derived from the presence of aluminum in the wall and platform atomization of arsenic using two sampling modes (aerosol vs. liquid drop) was revisited. The mechanistic action of the Al interference seems to be the result of the formation of some gas phase Al oxide, which would absorb at the arsenic analytical wavelength. A vaporization/condensation process for aluminum oxide seems to exist into the graphite tube with temperature. The effect of protons (as nitric acid) and activated carbon on the behavior of the Al interference was tested. A beneficial effect of overcoming the Al interference was derived from the presence of activated carbon. The mechanistic action of both, protons and activated carbon, was also proposed.     

用ETV-ICP-MS研究Cr、Ni、Zr、Nb、Yb在石墨炉中的蒸发/原子化机理

本文以电热蒸发电感耦合等离子体质谱（ETV-ICP-MS）为手段,探讨了Cr、Ni、Zr、Nb和Yb在石墨炉中的蒸发/原子化机理;比较了不同化学改进剂存在条件下,Cr、Ni、Zr、Nb和Yb的蒸发行为和在石墨炉原子吸收（GFAAS）中的原子化行为;考察了石墨炉温度和ICP功率等实验参数对上述元素发射强度及轮廓的影响.结果表明,Pd和Mg化合物的存在对Cr、Ni、Zr、Nb和Yb的蒸发/原子化行为没有明显的化学改进作用;然而,以聚四氟乙烯（PTFE）为化学改进剂时,可显著改善Cr、Ni、Zr、Nb和Yb的蒸发行为,避免难熔碳化物的形成,降低待测物的蒸发温度;对Cr和Ni的GFAAS信号强度略有增强;但是,由于Yb、Nb和Zr氟化物的离解键能很高,难以离解/原子化,PTFE的存在反而降低了Yb、Nb和Zr在GFAAS中的信号强度.     

Comparison of modifiers for determination of arsenic, antimony and selenium by atomic absorption spectrometry with atomization in graphite tube or hydride generation and in-situ preconcentration in graphite tube

The study was performed to compare the effect of magnesium modifier (magnesium nitrate) with that of other modifiers (palladium nitrate and nickel nitrate) in determination of arsenic, antimony and selenium by atomic absorption spectroscopy with atomization in a graphite tube, with generation of hydrides and in situ preconcentration in a graphite tube. The assumed criterion of a modifier performance was the magnitude of the analytical signal. It was found that in determinations with atomization in a graphite furnace the effects of all these modifiers were comparable, while in those with hydride generation and in situ preconcentration in a graphite tube the magnesium modifier showed poorer performance (25% decrease of the analytical signal). In determinations of arsenic and selenium the analytical signal obtained with magnesium salt as a modifier was comparable with those obtained in the presence of all other modifiers.     

Removal of chloride interference in the determination of chromium by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

Two mechanisms of chloride interference are described. The first arises from coordination of chloride to chromium(III), which can be prevented by addition of a masking agent such as tetraammonium—EDTA, The other is due to chloride salts remaining at the atomization step; this can be prevented by volatilizing the chlorides or converting them to oxides before atomization.     

Improvement of direct determination of Cu and Mn in seawater by GFAAS and total elimination of the saline matrix with the use of hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid, added to seawater, can assist in the removal of chloride in the drying step by precipitating fluoride salts, thus suppressing the chloride interference effects induced on the atomization signals of Cu and Mn. By adding HF to seawater before the analysis, MgF₂ and CaF₂ are precipitated at the bottom of the sampling flask, without precipitating Cu and Mn, and are consequently not introduced into the graphite furnace. Because sodium salts are eliminated at the pretreatment step, the whole seawater matrix is eliminated before the atomization of Cu or Mn. Therefore, the analyzed volume of seawater can be increased by using the multi-injection procedure without degradation of the limit of detection and risks of spectral interferences. The limit of detection obtained for Cu and Mn are 0.05 and 0.01 μg L⁻¹, respectively, for a 50 μL analyzed seawater volume.     

The removal of chloride interference in determination of chromate ion by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

Two mechanisms of chloride interference in the atomic absorption spectrometry of chromate in a graphite furnace have been established. The first is due to chloride salts remaining at the atomization step; this can be prevented by volatilizing the chlorides or converting them to oxides before atomization. The other arises from formation of chlorochromate ions, which can be removed by addition of an organic acid. The tetraammonium salt of EDTA is very suitable for this purpose.     

Inter-element interferences in the determination of arsenic and antimony by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry with a quartz tube atomizer

The interferences between arsenic and antimony on each other during the hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS) determination of arsenic and antimony using a quartz tube atomizer (QTA) were examined. In order to eliminate or reduce such interferences by selective heat decomposition of arsine and stibine, a Pyrex adsorption U-tube trap containing glass wool was placed between the drying tube and the quartz tube atomizer. Although at 250 °C stibine decomposes and is held almost completely by the trap, arsine is also decomposed to an extent of 24% and, therefore, thermal decomposition is not useful to eliminate antimony interference on arsenic determination. The effect of coating the glass wool in the U-tube with antimony on the arsenic suppression of the antimony signal was studied. The results showed that the antimony coating in the U-tube could not hold arsenic effectively and its interference on the antimony signal could not be eliminated by this means. In the second part of the study, oxygen was supplied to the quartz tube atomizer during atomization in order to study the effect of supplying oxygen on the antimony signal and on the interference of arsenic in the antimony determination. Sensitivity was increased in the presence of oxygen and interferences of arsenic on antimony determination was decreased by about 10% when oxygen was supplied. It was also observed that the extent of interferences depended mainly on the interferent concentration rather than the analyte concentration.     

Investigation of sulfur release in ETV-ICP-AES and its application for the determination of sulfates

Electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was applied to the determination of sulfur species in aqueous solutions. The sensitivity for sulfur as sulfate was found to be depending on the cations in the sample. For understanding this phenomenon the thermal behavior of sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate and the sulfates of sodium, zinc, magnesium and silver was studied. There were significant differences in the thermal release of sulfur from these sulfates. To explain these phenomena different reaction mechanisms were calculated using thermodynamic data. Pd(NO₃)₂ and Ge in KOH were successfully applied as modifiers for the stabilization of the sulfates during the thermal pre-treatment step and to establish a uniform thermal behavior of different sulfates. The stabilization of sulfur using Ge and Pd as modifiers is based on the reduction of the sulfates in presence of carbon, resulting in the formation of GeS and PdS, respectively. This explanation has been supported by comparing the experimental results with thermodynamic calculations considering different reactions for the thermal decomposition of the sulfates. Applying Ge (in KOH) as modifier the absolute detection limit was 300 pg sulfur (e.g. LOD 30 ng mL^–1). The significant influence of phosphates on the determination of sulfur could be essentially reduced by Pd as modifier. Received: 11 November 1997 / Revised: 14 January 1998 / Accepted: 18 January 1998     

Investigation of sulfur release in ETV-ICP-AES and its application for the determination of sulfates

Electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry was applied to the determination of sulfur species in aqueous solutions. The sensitivity for sulfur as sulfate was found to be depending on the cations in the sample. For understanding this phenomenon the thermal behavior of sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate and the sulfates of sodium, zinc, magnesium and silver was studied. There were significant differences in the thermal release of sulfur from these sulfates. To explain these phenomena different reaction mechanisms were calculated using thermodynamic data. Pd(NO₃)₂ and Ge in KOH were successfully applied as modifiers for the stabilization of the sulfates during the thermal pre-treatment step and to establish a uniform thermal behavior of different sulfates. The stabilization of sulfur using Ge and Pd as modifiers is based on the reduction of the sulfates in presence of carbon, resulting in the formation of GeS and PdS, respectively. This explanation has been supported by comparing the experimental results with thermodynamic calculations considering different reactions for the thermal decomposition of the sulfates. Applying Ge (in KOH) as modifier the absolute detection limit was 300 pg sulfur (e.g. LOD 30 ng mL^–1). The significant influence of phosphates on the determination of sulfur could be essentially reduced by Pd as modifier. Received: 11 November 1997 / Revised: 14 January 1998 / Accepted: 18 January 1998     

石墨炉原子吸收光谱中海水的背景吸收研究

由于海水的成分复杂,含盐量高,给用石墨炉直接测定其中的痕量杂质带来许多困难^[1]。Sturgeon等用预先分离的方法来克服干扰^[2]。为了进行直接测定,研究海水背景吸收的来源、特点和消除方法是重要的。海水背景吸收的波长特性和在石墨管内蒸发行为的研究表明,海水的背景吸收主要来自氯化钠。时间特性的研究表明,背景吸收的时间分布及背景峰高与原子化阶段的加热方式和原子化温度有关。作者还研究了基体改进。剂和其它减小背景吸收的方法。     

Influence of experimental parameters on the determination of antimony in seawater by atomic absorption spectrometry using a transversely heated graphite furnace with Zeeman-effect background correction

Spectroscopic and electrothermal conditions for the determination of antimony in seawater using a transversely heated graphite furnace with Zeeman-effect background correction have been optimized with the use of an a priori calculation of the detection limit. The lowest limit of detection was obtained with a 2 nm spectral curvatures bandwidth and the use of an electrodeless discharge lamp; however, these experimental conditions resulted in strong premature curvature of calibration curves. Pd(NO(3))(2) can be recommended as a chemical modifier because seawater interference effects are minimized and pretreatment curves up to 1500 degrees C can be used permitting the removal of the major part of the saline matrix before atomization. Under optimized spectroscopic and electrothermal conditions the obtained limit of detection of Sb in seawater was about 0.4 microg L(-1).     

Reduction of effects of structured non-specific absorption in the determination of arsenic and selenium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The presence of iron and phosphates in biological matrices causes deuterium arc background-correction systems to overcompensate at several arsenic and selenium resonance lines. The addition of platinum as matrix modifier has a significant effect on both the absorbance/time profile of iron and the formation of gaseous phosphate decomposition products. A nickel/platinum matrix modifier is shown effectively to control the problems in the determination of selenium arising both from thermal instability and spectral interferences. The same combination eliminates the spectral interferences found at the arsenic resonance lines. Remaining problems are the thermal stabilization of organometallic arsenic compounds present in biological samples. When radioactived-labelled ⁷⁴As compounds prepared in vivo were applied, none of the tested matrix modifiers (Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, Zr, Ce, Ce + magnesium nitrate) showed a significant influence on the volatility of arsenic in whole blood and urine from rats.     

Spectral and non-spectral interferences in the determination of thallium in environmental materials using electrothermal atomization and vaporization techniques—a case study

The literature on the determination of Tl in environmental samples using electrothermal atomization (ETA) and vaporization (ETV) techniques has been reviewed with special attention devoted to potential interferences and their control. Chloride interference, which is due to the formation of the volatile monochloride in the condensed phase, is the most frequently observed problem. Due to its high dissociation energy (88 kcal/mol), TlCl is difficult to dissociate in the gas phase and is easily lost. The best means of controlling this interference in ETA is atomization under isothermal conditions according to the stabilized temperature platform furnace concept, and the use of reduced palladium as a modifier. An alternative approach appears to be the ‘fast furnace’ concept, wherein both the use of a modifier and the pyrolysis stage are omitted. This concept requires an efficient background correction system, and high-resolution continuum-source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) appears to offer the best results. This chloride interference can also cause significant problems when ETV techniques are used. Among the spectral interferences found in the determination of thallium are those due to Pd, the most efficient modifier, and Fe, which is frequently found at high concentrations in environmental samples. Both interferences are due to nearby atomic lines, and are observed only when deuterium background correction and relatively high atomization temperatures are used. A more serious spectral interference is that due to the molecular absorption spectrum of SO₂, which has a maximum around the Tl line and exhibits a pronounced rotational fine structure. HR-CS AAS again showed the best performance in coping with this interference.     

Simultaneous determination of bromide, nitrite and nitrate ions in seawater by capillary zone electrophoresis using artificial seawater as the carrier solution

We describe capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the simultaneous determination of bromide, nitrite and nitrate ions in seawater. Artificial seawater was adopted as the carrier solution to eliminate the interference of high concentrations of salts in seawater. The artificial seawater was free from bromide ion to enable the determination of bromide ion in a sample solution. For the purpose of reversing the electroosmotic flow (EOF), 3 mM cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) was added to the carrier solution. A 100 microm ID (inside diameter) capillary was used to extend the optical path length. The limits of detection (LODs) for bromide, nitrite, and nitrate ions were 0.46, 0.072, and 0.042 mg/L (as nitrogen), respectively. The LODs were obtained at a signal to noise ratio (S/N) of 3. The values of the relative standard deviation (RSD) of peak area for these ions were 1.1, 1.5, and 0.97%. The RSDs of migration time for these ions were 0.61, 0.69, and 0.66%. Artificial seawater samples containing various concentrations of bromide, nitrite, and nitrate ions were analyzed by the method. The error was less than +/-12% even if the concentration ratio of bromide ion to nitrite or nitrate ion was 20-240. The proposed method was applied to the determination of bromide, nitrite, and nitrate ions in seawater samples taken from the surface and the seabed. These ions in other environmental waters such as river water and rainwater samples were also determined by ion chromatography (IC) as well as this method.