Efficiency of decomposition procedures for the determination of some elements in soils by atomic spectroscopic methods

Nine decomposition procedures for soil samples, such as via acid mixtures and fusion in open systems and microwave and autoclave dissolution (in closed systems under elevated temperature and pressure) were assessed using certified soil reference materials. The determination of various elements in solutions was performed by FAAS and ICP-OES and the results were compared with certified values and with direct current arc OES analysis. Received: 3 March 1997 / Revised: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 3 June 1997     

Recent on-line processing procedures for biological samples for determination of trace elements by atomic spectrometric methods

Few of the elements present in nature play a metabolic role in living organisms. According to their abundance, these elements are classified as macro-, micro- or trace elements, representing 93%, 5% and around 1% respectively, of the total body weight. The remaining percentage could be attributed to those elements with unknown biological functions, to others which are present only because of the exposure to polluted environment or to those intentionally introduced into the body for a special treatment. This review summarizes and discusses the most recent publications related to the on-line processing of biological samples for trace element determination using atomic spectrometry-based detectors. Preconcentration/separation procedures based on solid phase or cloud point extractions, electrochemical deposition, microdialysis, as well as chemical vapor generation are the common practice for improving the sensitivity and selectivity of the available atomic spectrometric techniques. The advantages of using isotope dilution mass spectrometry in speciation studies are also emphasized. Digestion or leaching in oxidizing acidic mixtures aided by heat or by ultrasound or microwave radiation, performed off- or on-line, is necessary to previous steps when processing solid biological samples. The most relevant analytical figures of merit such as detection limits, enrichment factors and sample throughput as well as some aspects related to the on-line system configurations and accuracy assessments are critically presented.     

Determination of elements in algae by different atomic spectroscopic methods

The chemistry of substances derived from plants has received a great deal of attention in the last several decades. Today, natural products and their synthetic analogs also play an important role in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Several interesting reviews on algae were published in the last 10 years. Algae, especially the red algae, are very helpful in every day practice in many fields, e.g. algal polysaccharides, agar, carrageenan and some algae extracts are used in agricultural, medicines and in food products, respectively (The Constituents of Red Algae, 1999; Gelling Hydrocolloids in Food Products Applications, 1979, p. 186; Marine Natural Products Chemistry, 1997, p. 337; Algae Polysaccharides, 1983, p. 195). The biological and pharmaceutical properties promote interest among chemists to focus their attention on algae, as yet, a wide open field (Synthesis and Proceedings of the Second EUMAC Workshop, Marine Eutrophication and Bentic Macrophytes, p. 2). The most extensively studied algal phyla are Chlorophyceae (green algae) (J. Phycol. 26 (1990) 670), Rhodophyceae (red algae) (J. Phycol. 25 (1989) 522) and Phaeophyceae (brown algae) (J. Phycol. 31 (1995) 325; J. Phycol. 32 (1996) 614). Concentrations of four elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were determined in the above-mentioned algal phyla by different atomic spectroscopic methods (F-AES, ICP-AES) after the digestion of algal samples with cc. HNO₃ in a microwave apparatus. Not only the Ca and Mg contents, but the ratio of the calcium to magnesium was calculated in every case. This ratio was lower (0.5–0.8) in green algae than in the red and brown algae (1.3–14.4). Therefore, the green algae are better magnesium sources than the red and brown. The elemental composition is of great importance in the ion system of human organism. It is usually characterized by the ion quotient ([Ca²⁺]+[Na⁺]:[Mg²⁺]+[K⁺]), which is approximately 1.0 under ideal conditions. However, in the human body this mole ratio generally varies between 2.5 and 4.0. The ion quotient was calculated by averaging between 1 and 2 in different algal phyla. This means that the 2.5–4.0 mole ratio can be decreased by different algal foods in the human organism.     

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.     

Comparison of ten digestion procedures for the determination of arsenic in soils by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Ten different digestion methods were investigated for the determination of arsenic in soils by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry. These methods included a dry ashing/digestion, several acid-leaching procedures, and digestions in a pressure decomposition vessel or a Kjeldahl apparatus. A certified reference sample was analysed and the results obtained for five other soil samples were compared with the data obtained by spectrophotometry. A nitric/sulphuric acid digestion was the most suitable. A brief interference study is reported.     

Sample pre-treatment methods for the trace elements determination in seafood products by atomic absorption spectrometry

Different sample pre-treatments for seafood products have been compared with determine trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Classic pre-treatments as microwave assisted-acid digestion and the slurry sampling technique were compared with new procedures such as microwave energy or ultrasound energy assisted-acid leaching process and enzymatic hydrolysis methodologies based on the use of pronase E. The methods were applied to DORM-1 and DOLT-1 reference materials with certified contents for the studied elements. The Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) method was used to compare with element concentration means obtained with each sample pre-treatment and also the certified concentration means in both reference materials. Multivariate techniques such as principal components analysis (PCA) was also applied to comparative purposes.     

X-ray fundamental parameter methods for the determination of some elements in hydrocarbons by WDXRF

Summary X-ray fundamental parameter methods have been applied to the determination of some elements such as Fe, Ca, Zn, Ba and S in solutions of hydrocarbons analysed by means of a wavelength dispersive spectrometer. A comparison is carried out for methods with standards as well as without standards. The influence of different kinds of standards on the results has been investigated. The use of aqueous salt solutions has led to more accurate values than the use of solid standards. The same random errors have been obtained for both kinds of standards. Results obtained without standards are slightly less accurate than those obtained with aqueous standards.     

Efficiency of solvent extraction methods for the determination of methyl mercury in forest soils

Methyl mercury was determined by gas chromatography, microwave induced plasma, atomic emission spectrometry (GC-MIP-AES) using two different methods. One was based on extraction of mercury species into toluene, pre-concentration by evaporation and butylation of methyl mercury with a Grignard reagent followed by determination. With the other, methyl mercury was extracted into dichloromethane and back extracted into water followed by in situ ethylation, collection of ethylated mercury species on Tenax and determination. The accuracy of the entire procedure based on butylation was validated for the individual steps involved in the method. Methyl mercury added to various types of soil samples showed an overall average recovery of 87.5%. Reduced recovery was only caused by losses of methyl mercury during extraction into toluene and during pre-concentration by evaporation. The extraction of methyl mercury added to the soil was therefore quantitative. Since it is not possible to directly determine the extraction efficiency of incipient methyl mercury, the extraction efficiency of total mercury with an acidified solution containing CuSO₄ and KBr was compared with high-pressure microwave acid digestion. The solvent extraction efficiency was 93%. For the IAEA 356 sediment certified reference material, mercury was less efficiently extracted and determined methyl mercury concentrations were below the certified value. Incomplete extraction could be explained by the presence of a large part of inorganic sulfides, as determined by ¶x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES). Analyses of sediment reference material CRM 580 gave results in agreement with the certified value. The butylation method gave a detection limit for methyl mercury of 0.1 ng g^–1, calculated as three times the standard deviation for repeated analysis of soil samples. Lower values were obtained with the ethylation method. The precision, expressed as RSD for concentrations 20 times above the detection limit, was typically 5%.     

Efficiency of solvent extraction methods for the determination of methyl mercury in forest soils

Methyl mercury was determined by gas chromatography, microwave induced plasma, atomic emission spectrometry (GC-MIP-AES) using two different methods. One was based on extraction of mercury species into toluene, pre-concentration by evaporation and butylation of methyl mercury with a Grignard reagent followed by determination. With the other, methyl mercury was extracted into dichloromethane and back extracted into water followed by in situ ethylation, collection of ethylated mercury species on Tenax and determination. The accuracy of the entire procedure based on butylation was validated for the individual steps involved in the method. Methyl mercury added to various types of soil samples showed an overall average recovery of 87.5%. Reduced recovery was only caused by losses of methyl mercury during extraction into toluene and during pre-concentration by evaporation. The extraction of methyl mercury added to the soil was therefore quantitative. Since it is not possible to directly determine the extraction efficiency of incipient methyl mercury, the extraction efficiency of total mercury with an acidified solution containing CuSO4 and KBr was compared with high-pressure microwave acid digestion. The solvent extraction efficiency was 93%. For the IAEA 356 sediment certified reference material, mercury was less efficiently extracted and determined methyl mercury concentrations were below the certified value. Incomplete extraction could be explained by the presence of a large part of inorganic sulfides, as determined by x-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES). Analyses of sediment reference material CRM 580 gave results in agreement with the certified value. The butylation method gave a detection limit for methyl mercury of 0.1 ng g(-1), calculated as three times the standard deviation for repeated analysis of soil samples. Lower values were obtained with the ethylation method. The precision, expressed as RSD for concentrations 20 times above the detection limit, was typically 5%.     

Comparison of microwave digestion procedures for the determination of some elements in asphaltite ash using ICP-AES

A microwave digestion procedure for asphaltite ash was developed in an attempt to facilitate routine analysis and obtain reproducible conditions or comparable results. The conditions of the most effective procedure for 0.1 g asphaltite ash samples are 1 ml of HNO3 + 3 ml of HCl + 1 ml of HF + 1 ml of deionized water as acid mixture and 15 min for digestion time. The digestion was accomplished in five stages applying continuously 90% to 20% of the microwave power and 20 to 100 psi of the pressure for 10 min of total time. Concentrations of selected elements, Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were measured using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The proposed method of digestion provided precise results with relative standard deviations generally less than 3% for investigated elements. Results for fly ash as standard reference material was in good agreement with certified values.     

Radiochemical separation methods for the determination of some toxic elements in biological reference materials

The present paper describes radiochemical separation procedures developed for the determination of the elements As, Cr, Hg, Sb and Se in biological reference materials. The methods chosen utilize ion exchange, retention on inorganic exchangers and solvent extraction techniques for the isolation of the elements of interest. These procedures are more rapid than previously used methods, such as distillation and precipitation. As to the sample dissolution, the following procedures were tested using radioactive tracers and reference materials: treatment of the materials in teflon bombs with a mixture of HNO₃+H₂SO₄ or HNO₃ only in a normal oven, and with HNO₃ in a microwave oven using specially designed digestion bombs.     

Comparitive study of the sample decomposition procedures in the determination of trace and rare earth elements in anorthosites and related rocks by ICP-MS

ICP-MS has been used for the determination of over 30 geochemically significant trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th, U and REEs) in anorthosites and related rock reference samples. Open acid digestion, pressure decomposition using HF, HNO(3) and HClO(4), and a fusion method using lithium metaborate and subsequent dissolution in dil. HNO(3) were adopted for the decomposition of these rock samples before analysis. The dissolution problems and interference effects are discussed. Rh and Bi were used as internal standards. The first set of data on several rare earths and other trace elements in the Russian anorthosite reference sample, MO-6 are presented along with data on other samples. The data are compared with the available data. The results obtained with different dissolution methods were found to be in good agreement for the majority of the trace elements. The accuracy and precision achieved (better than 6% RSD in most cases) suggested that the data obtained by ICP-MS for such samples are best suited for geochemical interpretations.     

Comparitive study of the sample decomposition procedures in the determination of trace and rare earth elements in anorthosites and related rocks by ICP-MS

ICP-MS has been used for the determination of over 30 geochemically significant trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th, U and REEs) in anorthosites and related rock reference samples. Open acid digestion, pressure decomposition using HF, HNO₃ and HClO₄, and a fusion method using lithium metaborate and subsequent dissolution in dil. HNO₃ were adopted for the decomposition of these rock samples before analysis. The dissolution problems and interference effects are discussed. Rh and Bi were used as internal standards. The first set of data on several rare earths and other trace elements in the Russian anorthosite reference sample, MO-6 are presented along with data on other samples. The data are compared with the available data. The results obtained with different dissolution methods were found to be in good agreement for the majority of the trace elements. The accuracy and precision achieved (better than 6% RSD in most cases) suggested that the data obtained by ICP-MS for such samples are best suited for geochemical interpretations.     

Direct and near real-time determination of metals in the atmosphere by atomic spectroscopic techniques

Three techniques based on atomic spectroscopy are described, which have shown promise for direct and near real-time determination of particles in the atmosphere in particular in industrial situations where metal-bearing dusts are released due to industrial operation, e.g., drilling, cutting etc. of metal.     

Silica gel modified with lumogallion for aluminum determination by spectroscopic methods

Simple, easy to use and selective method of Al(III) sorption-spectroscopic (SS) determination was proposed. For this purpose, silica modified with tridecyloctadecylammonium chloride(SGII) using adsorption technique and glass slide modified with thin silica-poly(dimethyldiallyl-ammonium chloride) (SGI) composite film obtained by sol-gel technique were worked out. It was shown that lumogallion (LG) easily absorbs on SGI and SGII. Obtained sorbents SGIII and SGIV, respectively, were used for aluminum(III) determination by diffuse reflectance and spectrophotometric methods. The ranges of determination were (mg L⁻¹): (0.08-0.54), s_r ≤ 0.13, n = 4 for SGIII and (0.05-2.0), s_r ≤ 0.11, n = 4 for SGIV. The detection limits (blank + 3σ) for aluminum were 70 and 30 μg L⁻¹ using SGIII and SGIV, respectively, where σ is the standard deviation of blank estimation. The accuracy of the developed spectrophotometric method was examined by the determination of standard addition of aluminum in alcohol-free beverages. The relative error did not exceed 9%. SGIII can be regenerated by 0.05 M EDTANa₂H₂ solution and reused. SGIV was shown to be perspective for determination of aluminum in solution in the range of 0.01-0.13 mg L⁻¹ by solid phase luminescent technique.     

Electrochemical hydride generation for the determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The determinations of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se were performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry following their electrochemical hydride generation. An electrochemical hydride generator based on a screw-thread seal arrangement, working in a continuous flow mode was used. The effects of cathode material, shape and area of material, catholyte, sample flow rate, applied current, catholyte solution concentration and interference of transition metals on signal intensity were studied. Five kinds of materials including lead, graphite, copper, tungsten and platinum with different shapes were tested as cathode materials. The signal obtained from a 3-dimensional electrode was higher than that from a 2-dimensional electrode under the same conditions. The signal intensity of Ge in HNO₃ medium within a narrow concentration range of 0.05–0.10 mol L^{− 1} was stronger than that in other acidic medium, such as HCl and H₂SO₄. However, the signal intensity of Ge was rapidly decreased with HNO₃, HCl and H₂SO₄ concentration increasing, and then reached approximately zero. In general, limits of detection and a precision were improved using a graphite cathode in H₃PO₄ medium. The analysis of the reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values for As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se. The method was successfully applied in the determination of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se in traditional Chinese medicine samples.     

Electrochemical hydride generation for the determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The determinations of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se were performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry following their electrochemical hydride generation. An electrochemical hydride generator based on a screw-thread seal arrangement, working in a continuous flow mode was used. The effects of cathode material, shape and area of material, catholyte, sample flow rate, applied current, catholyte solution concentration and interference of transition metals on signal intensity were studied. Five kinds of materials including lead, graphite, copper, tungsten and platinum with different shapes were tested as cathode materials. The signal obtained from a 3-dimensional electrode was higher than that from a 2-dimensional electrode under the same conditions. The signal intensity of Ge in HNO₃ medium within a narrow concentration range of 0.05–0.10 mol L^− 1 was stronger than that in other acidic medium, such as HCl and H₂SO₄. However, the signal intensity of Ge was rapidly decreased with HNO₃, HCl and H₂SO₄ concentration increasing, and then reached approximately zero. In general, limits of detection and a precision were improved using a graphite cathode in H₃PO₄ medium. The analysis of the reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values for As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se. The method was successfully applied in the determination of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se in traditional Chinese medicine samples.     

Renaissance in chiroptical spectroscopic methods for molecular structure determination

Two of the chiroptical spectroscopic methods, namely optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD), have been around for several decades. But their use in determining the absolute configuration and predominant conformation is gaining renewed interest with the availability of quantum mechanical methods for predicting ORD and ECD. Two other methods, namely vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and vibrational Raman optical activity (VROA), are relatively new and offer convenient approaches for deducing the structural information in chiral molecules. With the availability of quantum mechanical programs for predicting VCD and VROA, these methods have attracted numerous new researchers to this area. This review summarizes the latest developments in these four areas and provides examples where more than one method has been used to confirm the information obtained from individual methods.     

New methods for the determination of elements in trace amounts

Summary Recent methods for the determination of elements on trace amounts are discussed, which have been mainly developed in the author's laboratories. The review comprises the following sections: reagents and reactions, charge transfer reactions, candoluminescence, molecular emission spectroscopy in flames, enzymatic methods, gas-liquid chromatography of metal chelates, mass spectrometry of metal chelates.

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Neue Methoden zur Bestimmung von Elementen in Spurenmengen

Zusammenfassung Verfahren werden besprochen, die in den letzten Jahren hauptsächlich in den Laboratorien des Autors entwickelt wurden. Der Überblick umfaßt folgende Kapitel: Reagentien und Reaktionen, Charge-Transfer Reaktionen, Candoluminescenz, Molekular-Emissions-spektroskopie in Flammen, enzymatische Methoden, Gas-Flüssigkeits-Chromatographie von Metallchelaten und Massenspektrometrie von Metallchelaten.

Lecture presented at Euroanalysis I Conference, 28. 8.–1. 9. 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany.     

Evaluation of spectral interferences in the atomic emission determination of some rare-earth elements and yttrium in natural samples

Spectral interferences were quantitatively estimated using two characteristics: (1)Q ₁ (gl _a ) andQ _W (gDgl _a ) defined as the ratio of sensitivities of overlapping lines or their wings to the sensitivity of the line under investigationgl _a and (2)c _L , _I quantities defined as the contribution of foreign (interfering) lines to the real detection limit at the analytical line. With the use of an automated wave scanning and computer treatment of spectra, 20 analytical lines of medium and heavy lanthanides (from Eu to Lu) and Y and also overlapping lines of 29 interfering elements were examined. An arc two-jet plasmatron with an argon flow, predominantly giving a spark spectrum of rear-earth elements, was used as a source of excitation. The data obtained can be used in the atomic-emission analysis of natural samples for selecting preferential analytical lines.