Direct analysis of solid samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with a transversely heated graphite atomizer and D2-background correction system (SS GF-AAS)

An instrumental design for the analysis of heavy metals in solid samples (certified reference materials, river sediments, cements) by direct graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (SSGF-AAS) is presented and outlined. A high performance atomic absorption spectrometer with a D₂-background corrector and a transversely heated graphite atomizer was modified. Solid sampling was achieved by a mechanical module combined with an ultra microbalance. Cadmium, lead and chromium in different samples (sample weights between 20–400 μg) have been determined in the μg/g- to ng/g-range with the graphite-platform technique. Different ways of calibration and inhomogeneity problems are discussed. The precision of SSGF-AAS is equal to the precision of the conventional AAS-technique with chemical digestion (microwave digestion system, Zeeman-AAS). It is shown that SSGF-AAS is a reasonable alternative to the conventional technique for selected analytical problems. Received: 19 February 1997 / Revised: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 4 June 1997     

二苯硫脲-醋酸丁酯萃取-石墨炉原子吸收法测定地球化学样品中痕量银

对石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定地球化学样品中痕量银进行了研究。样品经盐酸、硝酸、硫酸、高氯酸溶解,在盐酸(1.2mol/L)介质中用醋酸丁酯萃取银与二苯硫脲螯合物,用石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定地球化学样品中痕量银,方法检出限为0.011ng/mL,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=11)为6.0%~12.2%,加标回收率为96.00%~105.00%。能满足地球化学样品中银含量为0.02~5μg/g范围内银测定的准确度和精密度的要求。     

Determination of vanadium in water by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization and using hot injection and preconcentration on the graphite tube

A sensitive method for the determination of vanadium in water by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization and using hot injection and preconcentration on the graphite tube is described. The water sample (200 μl) is added to the heated graphite tube in four portions over 200 s. Magnesium nitrate is used as matrix modifier. The precision, accuracy and interferences of the method were investigated. The method allows vanadium down to 0.27 μg l^?1 to be detected.     

嵌段分子筛聚合材料P123-SH萃取分离-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法分析痕量铬的形态

研究了嵌段分子筛聚合材料P123-SH萃取分离-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法对尿中痕量铬的形态分析方法,探讨了嵌段分子筛聚合材料P123-SH吸附铬的原理和最佳条件。在pH 7.0、常温下,Cr3+和Cr(Ⅵ)被很好的分离,且Cr3+可被该材料定量吸附,其吸附容量为6.15 mg/g。吸附的Cr3+可用2 mol/L的HCl洗脱,用石墨炉原子吸收法测定洗脱下来的Cr3+,往溶液中加入0.1%抗坏血酸将Cr(Ⅵ)还原为Cr3+测总铬,Cr(Ⅵ)含量为总铬减去Cr3+,方法测定Cr3+的检出限为0.011μg/L(3σ,n=11),线性范围为0.1～10μg/L,加标回收率在94%～106%之间,对0.50μg/L的Cr3+溶液平行测定7次,RSD为3.6%。方法可应用于生物样品和环境样品中痕量铬的形态分析。     

Determination of total tin in silicate rocks by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is described for the determination of total tin in silicate rocks utilizing a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer with a stabilized-temperature platform furnace and Zeeman-effect background correction. The sample is decomposed by lithium metaborate fusion (3 + 1) in graphite crucibles with the melt being dissolved in 7.5% hydrochloric acid. Tin extractions (4 + 1 or 8 + 1) are executed on portions of the acid solutions using a 4% solution of trioctylphosphine oxide in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Ascorbic acid is added as a reducing agent prior to extraction. A solution of diammonium hydrogenphosphate and magnesium nitrate is used as a matrix modifier in the graphite furnace determination. The limit of detection is > 10 pg, equivalent to > 1 μg l^?1 of tin in the MIBK solution or 0.2–0.3 μg g^?1 in the rock. The concentration range is linear between 2.5 and 500 μg l^?1 tin in solution. The precision, measured as relative standard deviation, is < 20% at the 2.5 μg l^?1 level and < 7% at the 10–30 μg l^?1 level of tin. Excellent agreement with recommended literature values was found when the method was applied to the international silicate rock standards BCR-1, PCC-1, GSP-1, AGV-1, STM-1, JGb-1 and Mica-Fe. Application was made to the determination of tin in geological core samples with total tin concentrations of the order of 1 μg g^?1 or less.     

Determination of erbium and neodymium dopants in bismuth tellurite optical crystals by graphite furnace atomic spectrometry techniques

Application of concentrated HCl as a solvent and triammonium citrate (TAC) as a chemical modifier is advantageous for the determination of Er and Nd dopants in bismuth tellurite (Bi₂TeO₅) single crystals by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The use of mini-flow of the internal gas, instead of gas stop, results in better precision at a price of a relatively small decrease in sensitivity. By evaluating integrated absorbance (A_int) signals for the GFAAS measurements (in the presence of matrix and TAC additive), characteristic mass values of 42 and 320 pg, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.9 and 131 μg l⁻¹ are found for Er and Nd, respectively. These LOD data correspond to 0.78 μg g⁻¹ Er and 21 μg g⁻¹ Nd in the solid samples. The calibration curves are linear up to 0.33 and 2.9 mg l⁻¹ concentrations in the solutions of Er and Nd, respectively. The ratio of the A_int signals of Er and Nd under gas stop and mini-flow were found near constant (1.34) with and without the matrix plus TAC. According to the vaporisation studies by graphite furnace electrothermal vaporisation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (GF-ETV-ICP-AES), the vaporisation of Bi and Te components of the solid Bi₂TeO₅ can be completed at 1200°C in a relatively short time, ensuring a preconcentration for the Er and Nd dopants, which do not vaporise below 2200°C in an argon atmosphere. On the other hand, fast vaporisation can be performed for the analytes at 2200°C with the use of CCl₄ vapour (∼0.5 v/v%) in the internal furnace gas (Ar). It was estimated for the Er analyte that by applying 10 mg of solid sample in the GF-ETV device (dispensed into a graphite sample boat) and using a two-step heating procedure (prevaporisation of the matrix in argon and vaporisation of the analyte in a chlorinating atmosphere), the lower limit of the quantitative determination with the ICP-AES method would be approximately one order of magnitude better than attainable with the GFAAS method based on dissolution.     

Determination of Barium in Bottled Drinking Water by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

In relation to the wide environmental spread of barium and to its cardiovascular effects, barium levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in 60 different brands of bottled water marketed in Italy.

Matrix interferences were investigated in order to evaluate the use of an analytical calibration function rather than the much more time consuming addition technique.

The barium content ranged from limit of detection C_L (7.0 μg/l) up to 660 μg/l, the median value being 80 μg/l, while the recovery tests varied between 90 and 110 % and the precision of the method (s_yx) was 2.5 %.     

Determination of cobalt in biological samples by line-source and high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using solid sampling or alkaline treatment

Two procedures for the determination of Co in biological samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) were compared: solid sampling (SS) and alkaline treatment with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) using two different instruments for the investigation: a conventional line-source (LS) atomic absorption spectrometer and a prototype high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer. For the direct introduction of the solid samples, certified reference materials (CRM) were ground to a particle size ≤50 μm. Alkaline treatment was carried out by placing about 250 mg of the sample in polypropylene flasks, adding 2 mL of 25% m/v tetramethylammonium hydroxide and de-ionized water. Due to its unique capacity of providing a 3-D spectral plot, a high-resolution continuum source (HR-CS) graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used as a tool to evaluate potential spectral interferences, including background absorption for both sample introduction procedures, revealing that a continuous background preceded the atomic signal for pyrolysis temperatures lower than 700 °C. Molecular absorption bands with pronounced rotational fine structure appeared for atomization temperatures >1800 °C probably as a consequence of the formation of PO. After optimization had been carried out using high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry, the optimized conditions were adopted also for line-source atomic absorption spectrometry. Six biological certified reference materials were analyzed, with calibration against aqueous standards, resulting in agreement with the certified values (according to the t-test for a 95% confidence level) and in detection limits as low as 5 ng g⁻¹.     

微波消解-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定纸质包装材料中铅含量

建立了微波消解-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定纸质包装材料中铅含量的方法.该方法具有良好线性关系,线性相关系数R~2为0.999 5,检出限为0.028μg/L,回收率为97%~102%,其相对标准偏差在3.14%~5.76%之间,优点为检出限低、精密度好、准确度高,能精确测定纸质包装材料中的铅含量.     

Direct analysis of solids for trace elements by combined electrothermal furnace/quartz T-tube/flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The analysis of solid samples by a combined graphite-furnace/air-acetylene flame technique based on generally available atomic absorption instrumentation is described. Samples are injected into the furnace and atomized via a slotted T-tube in the flame. Non-specific absorption is greatly reduced compared to that obtained in graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (a.a.s.). Sensitivity is reduced by 10–200 times compared to the direct graphite-furnace method, so that large sample sizes (up to 0.2 g) can be used; this minimizes problems caused by sample inhomogeneity. The elements considered are cadmium, lead, copper, arsenic, cobalt, mercury, antimony and selenium. Volatile elements such as mercury and arsenic can be determined without the need for a char step. Simple calibration procedures are possible in some cases and the precision is usually better than 10%. Background reduction capabilities are compared with those of conventional graphite-furnace a.a.s., the isothermal-furnace and the hollow graphite T-tube techniques. Analytical capabilities and results are presented for the direct determination of trace elements in numerous biological and some geological samples.     

Feasibility of eliminating interferences in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using analyte transfer to the permanently modified graphite tube surface

A procedure is proposed to avoid spectral and/or non-spectral interferences in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) by transferring the analyte during the pyrolysis stage from a solid sampling platform to the graphite tube wall that has been coated with a permanent modifier, e.g. by electrodeposition of a platinum-group metal. The direct determination of mercury in solid coal samples was chosen as a model to investigate the feasibility of this idea. The graphite tube surface was coated with palladium and the analyte was transferred from the solid sampling platform to the tube wall at a temperature of 500±50 °C. A characteristic mass of m₀=64 pg Hg was obtained for an atomization temperature of 1300 °C, proposing a quantitative transfer of the analyte to the tube wall. Calibration against aqueous mercury standards was not feasible as this element was lost in part already during the drying stage and could not be trapped quantitatively on the modified graphite tube surface. However, the results for all except one of the coal reference materials were within the 95% confidence interval of the certificate when the slope of a correlation curve between the integrated absorbance, normalized for 1 mg of sample, and the certified value for mercury was used for calibration. A detection limit of 0.025–0.05 μg g⁻¹ Hg in coal, calculated from three times the standard deviation of the investigated coal samples, could be obtained with the proposed method. The spectral interference due to excessive background absorption in the direct determination of mercury in coal could be eliminated completely. It is expected that this analyte transfer can be used in a similar way to eliminate other spectral and/or non-spectral interferences in the GF AAS determination of other volatile analytes.     

Determination of cobalt in sewage sludge using ultrasonic slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Cobalt in sludge of domestic and industrial origin, with high iron contents (> 17 g/kg), was determined by slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). Slurries prepared by ultrasonic stirring were adequately diluted to cover the variation in cobalt content in the sludge samples. The diluent was 5% HNO₃. Standard atomisation conditions for cobalt determination were used and no matrix modifier was applied. Slurry sampling GF-AAS results in the sludge were verified by analysing totally digested samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and by GF-AAS. The procedure was validated by analysing the certified reference material BCR 146 R, a sewage sludge of industrial origin. Recoveries for cobalt in the spiked slurried sludge samples ranged from 92 to 96%, with a relative standard deviation of 10%. Recoveries in the certified sludge using slurry sampling GF-AAS technique were about 103% for a cobalt content of 7.39 mg/kg.     

Determination of mercury in soils and sediments by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling

A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric procedure for the determination of mercury is presented, in which the samples are suspended in a solution containing hydrofluoric and nitric acids. Silver nitrate (4% m/v) and potassium permanganate (3%) are incorporated, in the order specified, and aliquots are directly introduced into the graphite furnace. A fast heating programme with no conventional pyrolysis step is used. The detection limit for mercury in a 125 mg ml⁻¹ suspension is 0.1 μg g⁻¹. Calibration is performed by using aqueous standards. The reliability of the procedure is proved by analysing certified reference materials.     

GFAAS determination of selenium after separation with thiol cotton in lichens and plants: the importance of adding a mineral matrix before decomposition

This study reports a preparation technique for the determination of Se concentration in lichens and plants, using matrix separation and preconcentration of samples with thiol cotton. Sample digestions were done using HNO₃-H₂O₂-HF. A graphite furnace atomic absorption method has been used for the determination of Se in the different samples. The method was validated through the analysis of four certified reference materials (lichen, grass and sea lettuce) and of four in-house lichen materials. A limit of determination of 0.02 μg g⁻¹ in the solid sample and a precision (relative standard deviation) varying from 3 to 15% was found through the course of this study. The most important finding resides in the fact that a mineral matrix must be added to the lichen and plant samples before decomposition to obtain high and constant recoveries.     

Influence of citric acid as chemical modifier for lead determination in dietary calcium supplement samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Citric acid was used as a chemical modifier for Pb determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in dietary supplement samples (calcium carbonate, dolomite and oyster shell samples) and its efficiency was compared to the use of palladium. Pyrolysis and atomization curves were established without use of chemical modifier, with the addition of 20, 100 and 200 μg of citric acid, and with 3 μg of palladium. The citric acid modifier made possible the interference-free Pb determination in the presence of high concentrations of Ca and Mg nitrates. Acid sample digestion involving closed vessels (microwave-assisted and conventional heating) and acid attack using polypropylene vessels at room temperature were compared. All digestion procedures presented similar results for calcium carbonate and dolomite samples. However, for oyster shell samples accurate results were obtained only with the use of closed vessel systems. Analyte addition and matrix-matched standards were used for calibration. The characteristic mass for Pb using citric acid and palladium were 16 and 25 pg, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was always less than 5% when citric acid was used. The relative and absolute limits of detection were 0.02 μg g^− 1 and 8 pg with citric acid and 0.1 μg g^− 1 and 44 pg with the Pd modifier, respectively (n = 10, 3σ). The recovery of Pb in spiked calcium supplement samples (10 μg l^− 1) was between 98% and 105%. With the use of 100 μg of citric acid as chemical modifier, problems such as high background absorption and high RSD values were minimized in comparison to the addition of 3 μg of palladium.     

Slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of chromium after separation/enrichment by mercaptoundecanoic acid modified gold coated TiO2 nanoparticles

In this study, a novel preconcentration/separation technique based on the slurry analysis of chromium loaded on mercaptoundecanoic acid modified TiO₂ core-Au shell nanoparticles prior to its determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was described. For this purpose, at first, TiO₂ nanoparticles were coated with gold shell and then modified with mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA). Cr (III) was collected on the prepared sorbent by conventional batch technique. After separation of liquid phase, slurry of the sorbent was prepared and directly introduced into graphite furnace of atomic absorption spectrometry. By this way, all drawbacks due to elution procedure were eliminated. Optimum conditions for quantitative sorption and preparation of the slurry were investigated. The chromium in certificated sea-water and spiked drinking water was recovered in the range of 95% confidence level. The proposed technique was fast and simple as well as the risks of contamination and loss during elution were low. The limit of detection (3σ, N = 10) was 0.34 μg L^{− 1}.     

Method development for the determination of thallium in coal using solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with continuum source,high-resolution monochromator and CCD array detector

The determination of thallium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is plagued by several difficult-to-control interferences. High-resolution continuum-source GFAAS, a technique not yet commercially available, was used to investigate and eliminate spectral interferences, and to develop a reliable method for the determination of thallium in coal using direct solid sampling. The resolution of 2.1 pm per pixel, and the display of the spectral environment ±0.2 nm on both sides of the analytical line were ideally suited for that purpose. The thallium signal was preceded by excessive non-specific absorption due to the coal matrix when pyrolysis temperatures ≤600 °C were used, and a characteristic molecular absorption with pronounced fine structure was following the atomic absorption. With a pyrolysis temperature of 700 °C the non-specific absorption at the beginning of the atomization stage could be eliminated, and using an atomization temperature of 1700 °C, and no modifier, the atomic absorption could be separated in wavelength and in time from the molecular structures, making possible an interference-free determination of thallium, using Pixel 260 at 276.8085 nm for background correction. The results obtained for 11 coal samples and one coal fly ash were in agreement at a 95% confidence level without a modifier, with palladium added in solution, and with ruthenium as permanent modifier, respectively, using aqueous standards for calibration. A characteristic mass of m₀=12 pg and 5.5 pg was obtained with the center pixel only, and the center pixel ±1, respectively. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation was typically better than 5%, and the limit of detection, based on three times the standard deviation of the coal with the lowest analyte content, was 0.01 μg g⁻¹.     

Laser ablation for aerosol deposition graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A commercially available pulse laser was used with a graphite furnace (GF) atomic absorption (AA) spectrometer for the trace analysis of metals in solid samples.Laser ablated solid material was deposited onto the inner surface of the GF. The optimum deposition temperature was 300 K. The deposited aerosol was atomized in a conventional GF heating regime.The analytical results in the deposition technique for Cd, Zn, Pb, Ag, Mn, Fe and Ni contained in different target materials were compared with results obtained with another laser ablation GF technique, which is characterized by the transport of the ablated material into a constant temperature GF with immediate atomization of the aerosol particles. The deposition technique improved the sensitivity and precision for the low volatile elements Cd, Zn and Pb. In contrast, the aerosol injection technique is preferable for the determination of elements that require more energy for atomization. Working with tube temperatures of up to 2800 K the authors obtained higher absorbance values (peak height) for Mn, Fe and Ni using the injection technique. The use of multiple deposition of laser ablated material inside the GF to achieve improved detection limits and higher precision for one atomization seems promising only for selected matrices.     

Determination of titanium by slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with the use of fluoride modifiers

A method for the determination of titanium in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling was developed. Titanium forms thermally stable carbides in the graphite tube that leads to decreased sensitivity and severe memory effects. Various fluorinating agents, BaF(2), NH(4)F, and CHF(3) (Freon-23) were therefore examined in order to reduce or eliminate these problems. Ti was determined, at various concentration levels, in certified reference materials (CRMs) using ultrasonic slurry sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (USS-GFAAS). The three CRMs, GBW 07601 (Human Hair Powder), GBW 07602 (Bush Branches and Leaves), and GBW 07411 (Chinese Soil), contained 2.7 microg g(-1), 95 microg g(-1), and 0.41% Ti, respectively. For comparison, determinations of Ti were made with modifiers (BaF(2) and NH(4)F) and without modifier, using 5% CHF(3) (in argon) for cleaning the graphite furnace. Good accuracy was obtained using aqueous Ti standards for calibration. A homogeneity study showed that Ti was evenly distributed in all the samples at the mg-microg level. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) obtained for the three CRMs were 16%, 11%, and 8% ( n=30). In spite of the wide range of Ti concentrations in the present samples, the same wavelength (365.4 nm) could be used for analysis by varying the slurry sample concentration. The precision was best for the material with the highest titanium content in spite of the fact that only 3 microg of sample was introduced into the furnace.     

Status and future prospects for use of the graphite furnace for elemental trace analysis of liquids and solids

Summary An overview of the versatility and use of the graphite furnace for elemental trace analysis of liquids and solids using spectrochemical detection is presented. The analytical performance of conventional graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is compared to other popular state of the art spectrochemical techniques with respect to detection power, precision, sample compatibility and throughput. Some applications of the graphite furnace to practical problem solving in trace analysis are highlighted, including its use with atomic absorption, coherent forward scattering, laser excited atomic fluorescence, laser enhanced ionization and coupled methodologies. Prospects for future use and evaluation are given.