Use of the Eurachem guide on method validation for determination of uranium in environmental samples

Three analytical methods for determination of uranium in environmental samples by a fluorescence technique have been validated and compared in accordance with the Eurachem Guide on method validation. The first method depends on uranium separation from iron using the mercury anode technique; in the other two methods uranium is separated from iron on an anion exchange column by use of either a solution of hydrochloric acid containing ascorbic acid and hydrazine hydrate or a dilute sulfuric acid solution. Detection limits, repeatability, reproducibility, and recovery coefficient were the main validation characteristics. The results showed that better statistical values can be achieved by using the third method. Control charts for in-house control samples and international intercomparison samples have also shown that the third method is more statistically stable with time. In addition, uncertainties of measurement were estimated and compared for the three methods. It was found that the Eurachem Guide and comparison of quality statistical validation data can be good tools for selection of the appropriate method for an application.     

Development of method for determination and preconcentration of uranium in water samples using XAD-4 resin loaded with Br-PADAP

In the present work, a minicolumn of XAD-4 loaded with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)-phenol (Br-PADAP) is proposed as a preconcentration system for uranium determination in well, tap and mineral water samples by spectrophotometer using arsenazo III as the chromogenic reagent. Initially, a two-level (2³) full factorial design was used for the preliminary evaluation of three factors, involving the following variables: sampling flow rate, elution flow rate, and pH. This design has revealed that, for the studied levels, buffer concentration and pH were significant factors. When the experimental conditions established in the optimization step were pH = 8.6, and an elution flow rate of 8.6 mL min^?1 using 0.5% m/v ascorbic acid, this system has allowed for the determination of uranium with a detection limit (LOD) (3σ/S) of 0.05 μg L^?1 and a quantification limit (LOQ) (10σ/S) of 0.16 μg L^?1. The precision expressed as the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 0.8% and 1.9% at 10.0 and 1.0 μg L^?1, respectively- and a preconcentration factor of 184.5 for a sample volume of 50.0 mL. Accuracy was confirmed by uranium determination in the standard reference material, NIST SRM 1566b trace element units in Oyster Tissue samples, and spike tests with recuperations ranging from 93.2 to 105%; the procedure were applied for uranium determination in tap water, well water, and drinking water samples collected from Caetité and Cruz das Almas Cities, Bahia, Brazil. Five water samples were analyzed the uranium concentrations varied from 0.50 to 2.07 μg L^?1     

Spectrophotometric determination of chloride in waters using a multisyringe flow injection system

A multisyringe flow injection system (MSFIA) with spectrophotometric detection is proposed as a fast, robust and low-reagent consumption system for the determination of chloride (Cl⁻) in waters. The system is based in the classic reaction of Cl⁻ with Fe³⁺ and Hg(SCN)₂, but due to the hazardous properties of this last reagent, the proposed methodology has been developed with the aim to minimize the consumption of this one, consuming less than 0.05 mg of Hg for a Cl⁻ determination, being the system of this type with the lowest Hg consumption. The linear working range was between 1 and 40 mg L⁻¹ Cl⁻ and the detection limit was 0.2 mg L⁻¹ Cl⁻. The repeatability (RSD) was 0.8% for a 10 mg L⁻¹ Cl⁻ solution, and the injection throughput was 130 h⁻¹. The proposed system is compared with other chloride monitoring flow systems, this comparison is realized with a point of view of the equilibrium between the obtained analytical features and produced residues toxicity. The proposed system was applied to the determination of Cl⁻ in mineral, tap and well water.     

A multisyringe flow injection method for the automated determination of sulfide in waters using a miniaturised optical fiber spectrophotometer

In this paper, a fully software-controlled multisyringe flow injection (MSFIA) spectrophotometric system is proposed for the determination of sulfide in environmental and waste waters. The implementation of ancillary solenoid valves into the flow network allows a multitude of injection modalities to be explored, the selected modality being directly dependent on the aim of the assays. The multicommuted sandwich-type approach is introduced in this work as an efficient means to warrant high sensitivity for the particular assay with excellent repeatabilities and a considerable reagent saving. Moreover, a high injection frequency may be easily attained by carrying out a multiple injection modality during a single forward displacement of the piston driver bar. The interfacing of the robust and versatile multisyringe piston pump with an optical fiber plug-in spectrophotometer furnished with a light emitting diode enables the miniaturization of the flow analyzer, which is thus readily adaptable to in-situ and real-time monitoring schemes. The flow method is based on the coupling Fischer’s reaction of sulfide with N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine in the presence of Fe(III) as oxidizing reagent in a 0.7 M HCl medium. Careful selection of the physical and chemical variables enabled coefficients of variations better than 1.5% (n = 10) at the 1 mg l⁻¹ level for both injection modalities. Dynamic working ranges of 0.2–2.0 and 0.5–5 mg l⁻¹ sulfide for sandwich and multiple injection techniques, and detection limits of 0.09 and 0.15 mg l⁻¹, respectively, were obtained. Furthermore, the sandwich modality featured an average slope of 0.43 ± 0.02 l mg⁻¹ calculated from 10 day-to-day calibration plots. This result reveals better sensitivity than other flowing stream methods described in the literature. The multiple injection technique allowed an improvement of the injection throughput up to 80 h⁻¹, although a decrease of sensitivity was concomitantly observed (average slope of 0.17 ± 0.01 l mg⁻¹).

The multisyringe flow method was successfully applied to the determination of sulfide in different spiked water matrices (namely, mineral, tap, freshwater, seawater and wastewater) with recoveries ranging from 96 to 104%. Good agreement was also found in water samples between the MSFIA results and those of the batch APHA-standard method.     

Preconcentration techniques for uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) prior to analytical determination-an overview

The need for the preconcentration of trace and ultratrace amounts of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) in conjunction with various detection techniques was clearly brought out in the introductory part. Subsequently, various off-line and on-line procedures developed for uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) prior to their analytical determination since 1990 were critically reviewed in terms of enrichment factor, retention/sorption capacity, validation using certified reference materials and application to complex real samples. The relative merits and demerits of various preconcentration and/or separation of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) prior to quantitation by a plethora of analytical techniques are discussed in concluding part of the review article.     

Gas-phase chemiluminescence with ozone oxidation for the determination of total tin in environmental samples using flow injection hydride generation and cryotrapping

The gas-phase chemiluminescence detection system based on the ozonization of gaseous hydride was exploited and utilized for the determination of total tin in environmental samples. After sample treatment, tin was reduced to stannane by sodium borohydride in a phosphate buffer medium of pH 5.8. Flow injection technique was used to control the reaction precisely and reproducibly. The generated stannane, carried by helium, was separated from liquid and dried using an ice-salt cryogenic bath and subsequently trapped in a glass U-tube immersed in liquid nitrogen. The cryotrapped stannane was vaporized by bringing the tube to room temperature and subsequently carried in a flow of helium to a reaction chamber where ozone was used to oxidize the stannane. Chemiluminescence was produced during the oxidation process, which was utilized for the measurement of tin. Under optimal conditions, a detection limit of 0.32 μg L⁻¹ was achieved with a relative standard deviation of 3.1% (10.0 μg L⁻¹ Sn, n = 11). Interferences from transition metal ions and other hydride forming elements were reduced by the addition of 1,10-phenanthroline and through optimized hydride generation conditions. The proposed system was applied to the determination of Sn in water and soil samples with satisfactory results.     

A membraneless gas-diffusion unit-multisyringe flow injection spectrophotometric method for ammonium determination in untreated environmental samples

A new design of a membraneless gas-diffusion (MGD) unit coupled to a multisyringe flow injection system is proposed. The spectrophotometric determination of ammonium using an acid-base indicator was chosen to show the feasibility of this approach. Hence, in alkaline medium, ammonium ions are transformed into ammonia (donor channel) which diffuses through the headspace into the acceptor stream (bromothymol blue solution), causing a pH change and subsequently a colour change. The exploitation of the enhanced potentialities of this re-designed MGD device was the main purpose of the present work. Hence, several strategies concerning flow management were studied seeking to characterize and improve the analytical features of the methodology and moreover, untreated environmental samples were analysed without previous filtration. Consequently, stopped flow in acceptor channel with continuous flow in donor channel was chosen for the application to wastewater and spiked river water samples. A linear concentration range between 10.0 and 50.0 mg L⁻¹ of NH₄⁺, a limit of detection of 2.20 mg L⁻¹ and a determination frequency of 11 h⁻¹ were obtained.     

Preconcentration and determination of inorganic arsenic using a multisyringe flow injection system and hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A new multisyringe flow injection system for inorganic arsenic determination at trace levels by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HGAFS) is presented. Preconcentration on a solid-phase was carried out using a column packed with an anion-exchange resin (Amberlite IRA-410). The reagents are dispensed to the system using a multisyringe burette coupled with two multi-port selection valves.

Different parameters were changing in order to make the system as effective as possible. An analytical curve was obtained for arsenic determination between 50 and 2000 ng l⁻¹. This new approach improved five times the sensitivity over a MSFIA–HGAFS technique developed previously by the authors. Detection limit of the proposed technique was (3σ_b/S) of 30 ng l⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of As at 1 μg l⁻¹ was 4.8% (n=7). A sample throughput of 10 h⁻¹ has been achieved. The proposed method has been applied to different reference solid and water materials with satisfactory results.     

Nanometer-sized alumina coated with chromotropic acid as solid phase metal extractant from environmental samples and determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A method for solid phase extraction of trace metals such as Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ using nanometer-sized alumina coated with chromotropic acid prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) has been developed. Various influencing parameters on the separation and preconcentration of trace metals, pH, flow rate, sample volume, amount of adsorbent, concentration of eluent and sorption kinetics have been studied. The detection limits for Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were found to be 0.14, 0.62, 0.22, 0.54, 0.27, 0.28, 0.53 and 0.38 ng ml^− 1, respectively. The adsorption capacity of the solid phase adsorption material is 10.3, 11.3, 14.5, 16.4, 15.1, 11.7, 15.4 and 16.8 mg g^− 1 for Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni^2+, Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factor was obtained in the range of 50-100 for all studied metal ions. Coexisting ions over a high concentration range have not shown any significant effects on the determination of aforesaid metal ions. The accuracy of the proposed method was tested by standard reference materials (NIST 1643e: water, NIST 1573a: tomato leaves and NIST 1568a rice flour) and natural waters and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Development of an MSFIA-MPFS pre-treatment method for radium determination in water samples

A new automatic method for preconcentration and separation of radium in water samples has been developed. Such method combines both multisyringe (MSFIA) and multi-pumping (MPFS) flow analysis techniques allowing to analyze larger sample volumes with a higher throughput than other previous methodologies. Ra adsorbed on MnO₂, deposited on cotton fiber, is eluted with hydroxylamine and subsequently coprecipitated with BaSO₄. ²²⁶Ra activity is determined off-line by using a low background proportional counter. The procedure yield is (90 ± 3)% and its lower limit of detection 0.05 Bq L⁻¹. This method has been applied satisfactorily to different types of spiked water (tap, mineral and seawater).     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of uranium(VI) in water samples after mixed micelle-mediated extraction

A cloud point extraction process using mixed micelle of the cationic surfactant CTAB and non-ionic surfactant TritonX-114 to extract uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions was investigated. The method is based on the color reaction of uranium with pyrocatechol violet in the presence of potassium iodide in hexamethylenetetramine buffer media and mixed micelle-mediated extraction of complex. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g. surfactant concentration, reagent concentration, effect of time) were studied and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g. limit of detection, linear range, preconcentration, and improvement factors) were obtained. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 0.20-10.00 ng mL⁻¹ of uranium(VI) ion and the detection limit of the method is 0.06 ng mL⁻¹. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of uranium(VI) in tap water, waste-water and well water samples.     

类Fenton试剂-罗丹明B-HCl体系动力学荧光法测定环境水样中 2,4-二氯酚

在酸性介质中,痕量2,4-二氯酚对类Fenton试剂与罗丹明B的反应具有明显阻抑作用,且其阻抑作用大小与2,4-二氯酚的浓度有关。据此建立了一种动力学荧光法测定痕量2,4-二氯酚的新方法。考察了各种因素对测定方法灵敏度的影响。在最佳条件下,方法的线性范围为0.04~0.8μg/mL,检出限为0.012μg/mL。将该方法用于7种环境水样和6种合成样品中2,4-二氯酚的测定,加标回收率为93.5%~108.0%,相对误差为-5.45%~4.60%。     

Multisyringe flow injection system for total inorganic selenium determination by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A new multisyringe flow injection system for total inorganic selenium determination by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HGAFS) has been proposed. The flow methodology is based on the simultaneous injection of sample in the acid media (50% HCl), a reducing sodium tetrahydroborate solution (0.18%) and a solution of hydrochloric acid (50%) which are dispensed into a gas-liquid separation cell by using a multisyringe burette coupled with one multiport selection valve. The usage of the time-based injection increases the sample throughput and provides precise known volumes of sample. The hydride of selenium is delivered into the flame of an atomic fluorescence spectrometer by means of an argon flow. A hydrogen flow has been used to support the flame.The technique can be applied over a wide range of concentrations of selenium between 0.1 and 3.5 μg l⁻¹ with good repeatability (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values 4.6-7% for 1 μg l⁻¹ of Se). The detection limit of the developed technique (3σ_b/S) was 0.01 μg l⁻¹. A sample throughput was 28 samples per hour (84 injections). The multisyringe technique has been validated by means of reference solid (sea lettuce) and water (hard drinking water) materials with good agreement with certified values. The analytical features were compared with those obtained by using of the commercial flow injection analysis (FIA) system. The proposed method provides a higher sampling frequency and a significant reduction of reagent and sample consumption in front the flow injection application.     

Diazotized reagent for spectrophotometric determination of glyphosate pesticide in environmental and agricultural samples

A new sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of glyphosate herbicide in environmental and agricultural samples is developed. The reaction is based on diazotization followed by coupling of glyphosate with p-dimethyl amino benzaldehyde. The resulted complex absorption spectra was observed at λ_max = 420 nm. The effects of other metal ions and pesticides were also tested for selective determination of glyphosate. The analytical parameters were optimized and have been successfully applied for determination of glyphosate in various environmental samples such as soil, water and vegetables. This method has a lower limit detection of 6 μg of glyphosate. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 6.0 μg–24.0 μg glyphosate in 25 mL of the final solution at 420 nm. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation calculated are 0.0055 and 1.023, respectively. The molar absorptivity of the colored system is 1.91 × 10¹⁰ L mol^?1cm^?1 and Sandell's sensitivity is found 0.408 × 10^?5 μg cm^?2. The proposed method is simple, sensitive, highly reproducible and time saving as compare to those complicated time consuming methods.     

Development of an integrated flow injection system for the electro-oxidative leaching of uranium from geological samples and its spectrophotometric determination with Arsenazo III

This work proposes a new procedure for on-line electro-oxidative leaching and spectrophotometric determination of uranium in ore samples. By associating a conventional flow injection system, used for uranium determination with Arsenazo III, with an on-line system for electro-oxidative leaching, a fully integrated system was assembled. The systems were integrated after achieving optimum conditions for uranium determination and leaching. According to the results obtained in the present work, a current density of 280 mA cm⁻² generated enough hypochlorite ions in the electrolyte solution (3.6 mol L⁻¹ HCl + 2% (w/v) NaCl) to promote quantitative oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) thus improving the extraction efficiency. The slurry density did not significantly affect the performance of the system and the increasing temperature resulted in a decrease in extraction efficiency. This methodology was applied in the determination of U₃O₈ in four ore samples and the results obtained agreed with those obtained by ICP-MS after conventional wet acid digestion of the samples.     

顺序注射阻抑动力学光度法测定环境水样中的间苯二酚

在酸性条件下,利用间苯二酚能抑制罗丹明B和溴酸根反应速率的原理,联用顺序注射技术建立了非平衡态快速测定痕量间苯二酚的新方法.优化了顺序注射流路参数、试剂用量,考察了共存物的影响.在最佳条件下,该法测定间苯二酚的线性范围为0.20～3.00 μg/mL,检出限为0.09 μg/mL,每小时可测定40个样.     

Fluorescence quenching method for determination of trace tungsten in environmental samples with dibromohydroxyphenylfluorone

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescence quenching method has been developed for the determination of trace tungsten in environmental samples using dibromohydroxyphenylfluorone (DBHPF) as an emission reagent. In the presence of 0.04?mol/L of sulphuric acid and acetyltrimethylammonium bromide, tungsten(VI) reacts with DBHPF to form a 1?:?3 red complex within 5.0?min. In order for the DBHPF–tungsten(VI) complex to form, the fluorescence intensity of the reagent solution was quenched linearly by adding 0.1 to 1.0?µg of tungsten(VI) in 25?mL of solution. This was measured at 528?nm with excitation at 495?nm. In this work, a standard addition method was investigated and used for sample analysis. The decrease in fluorescence intensity of the reagent solution (ΔF) was linear for 0?～?0.9?µg of tungsten(VI) in 25?mL of solution, and the detection limit (3?s) of the standard addition method was found to be 0.012?ng/mL of tungsten(VI). The effects of various metal and nonmetal ions were studied in detail. The experiments clearly showed that most foreign ions can be tolerated in considerable amounts; in particular, 50-fold Mo(VI), V(V), Zr(VI) and Ti(IV) do not interfere, and the selectivity of the proposed method is better than other previously described methods. Moreover, the method proposed here is very stable and simple, the fluorescence intensity of the solution can remain almost unchanged for 2.0?h at room temperature, and the method has been used successfully to determine tungsten in environmental samples.     

Coprecipitation of heavy metals with erbium hydroxide for their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations in environmental samples

Trace amounts of copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium, iron and lead were quantitatively coprecipitated with erbium hydroxide on 0.05 M NaOH medium. The coprecipitant could be easily dissolved with 1 M nitric acid. The presence of up to 15 g/l of erbium ions did not interfere with the atomic absorption spectrometric determination of analyte ions. The recovery values for analyte ions were higher than 95%. The concentration factor was 25-fold. Coprecipitation parameters including reagent amounts and matrix effects are discussed. The relative standard deviations of the determinations were below 9%. The time required for the coprecipitation was about 30 min. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace amounts of analyte ions in urine, soil and sediment, natural water samples.     

A novel multi-element coprecipitation technique for separation and enrichment of metal ions in environmental samples

A multi-element preconcentration-separation technique for heavy metal ions in environmental samples has been established. The procedure is based on coprecipitation of gold(III), bismuth(III), cobalt(II), chromium(III), iron(III), manganese(II), nickel(II), lead(II), thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) ions by the aid of Cu(II)-9-phenyl-3-fluorone precipitate. The Cu(II)-9-phenyl-3-fluorone precipitate was dissolved by the addition 1.0 mL of concentrated HNO₃ and then the solution was completed to 5 mL with distilled water. Iron, lead, cobalt, chromium, manganese and nickel levels in the final solution were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer, while gold, bismuth, uranium and thorium were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The optimal conditions are pH 7, amounts of 9-phenyl-3-fluorone: 5 mg and amounts of Cu(II): 1 mg. The effects of concomitant ions as matrix were also examined. The preconcentration factor was 30. Gold(III), bismuth(III), chromium(III), iron(III), lead(II) and thorium(IV) were quantitatively recovered from the real samples. The detection limits for the analyte elements based on 3 sigma (n = 15) were in the range of 0.05-12.9 μg L⁻¹. The validation of the presented procedure was checked by the analysis of two certified reference materials (Montana I Soil (NIST-SRM 2710) and Lake Sediment (IAEA-SL-1)). The procedure was successfully applied to some environmental samples including water and sediments.     

A novel approach for the determination of detection limits for metal analysis of environmental water samples

Despite the widespread use of the USEPA method (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR 136 Appendix B) for the determination of method detection limit (MDL), criticisms have been raised that the method does not account for measurement bias and outliers that subsequently lead to a common misunderstanding of the requirement for the determination of MDL. This paper demonstrates that it is difficult to follow the USEPA method for verifying the MDL for analysis involving multiple metals and proposes a precision and bias criterion for determining the MDL. A multiple-point fitted profile, based on the correlation between relative standard deviation (RSD) and concentration, is used to derive a robust MDL value. Representative examples of As, Ca, Cr, and Cu are used to illustrate this procedure. A procedure for identifying outliers is also discussed.