Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) with PAR and N-octylacetamide

A new and simple method for selective spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and N-octylacetamide into benzene over pH 7.0–9.0 is described. The molar absorptivity of the complex with 9 different amides is in the range of (0.40–3.2)·10⁴ 1·mol^–1·cm^–1 at the absorption maximum. Out of these, the most sensitive compound N-octylacetamide (OAA) was chosen for detailed studies in the present investigation. The detection limit of the method is 0.008 g U·ml^–1. The system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0–5 g U·ml^–1. The method is free from interferences of most of the common metal ions except vanadium(V) and copper(II), which are masked by proper masking agents. The composition of the complex is determined by curve-fitting method. The method has been applied for the recovery of the metal from rock samples and synthetic mixtures.     

Determination of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in soils by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) then gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC–MS, SIM) has been developed for determination of trace amounts of the fungicides pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in soil and humic materials. Both fungicides were extracted on to a fused-silica fibre coated with 85 m polyacrylate (PA). Response-surface methodology was used to optimise the experimental conditions. For soil samples the linear dynamic range of application was 0.004–1.000 g g^–1 for pyrimethanil and 0.013–1.000 g g^–1 for kresoxim-methyl. The detection limits were 0.001 g g^–1 and 0.004 g g^–1 for pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl, respectively. HP-SPME–GC–MS analysis was highly reproducible—relative standard deviations (RSD) were between 6.7 and 12.2%. The method was validated by analysis of spiked matrix samples and used to investigate the presence of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl above the detection limits in soil and humic materials.     

Platinum concentration in silicone breast implant material and capsular tissue by ICP-MS

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the concentration of platinum (Pt) in silicone breast implant gel (range, 0.26–48.90 g g^–1 Pt; n=15), elastomer (range, 3.05–28.78 g g^–1 Pt; n=7), double lumen (range, 5.79–125.27 g g^–1 Pt; n=7), foam (range, 5.79–8.36 g g^–1 Pt; n=2), and capsular tissue (range, 0.003–0.272 g g^–1 Pt; n=15). The results show that very high levels of Pt are present in the encasing elastomer, double lumen, and foam envelope materials. Silicone breast implants can be a source of significant Pt exposure for individuals with these implants.     

Flow-Injection Determination of Anionic Surfactants in Natural Waters in the Presence of Humic Acids

A procedure has been developed for the flow-injection extraction–photometric determination of anionic surfactants in natural waters in the presence of humic acids. The interference from humic acids is not observed up to concentrations of 20 mg/L. The procedure is based on the extraction-chromatographic separation of ion pairs of anionic surfactants with Methylene Blue, the elution of the separated ion pairs with chloroform, and their recovery from the aqueous phase in a chromatomembrane cell. The calibration range of anionic surfactants for a sample volume of 80 mL is 50–500 g/L.     

A Large Volume Injection Procedure for GC-MS Determination of PAHs and PCBs

A simple on-column injection system for large volume of liquid samples for the GC-MS determination of traces of PAHs and PCBs has been investigated. A deactivated fused silica capillary 20 m × 0.53 mm I.D. and 2 meters of an HP5 column (0.53 mm,1 m film thickness) were used as retention gaps. Injection volumes of 80 L for PAHs and 90 L for PCBs, allow determination of 5–50 ng L^–1 PAHs and 11–44 ng L^–1 PCBs in hexane solution with an RSD of < 10%. The method has been used for the determination of PCBs and PAHs in soil sample.     

Ion-pair adsorption film colorimetry — A new simple method for ppb level of aluminum ion in water sample

A new, highly sensitive and simple colorimetric method for trace aluminum(III) with 2,2-dihydroxyazobenzene, H₂L, is described, based on the ion-pair adsorption of the anionic Al chelate, [A1L₂ ^–, with crystal violet cation, CV⁺, on the surface of Polyvinylchloride film plasticized with dioctylphthalate. The blue violet species, CV⁺[A1L₂]^–, is enriched onto the transparent film, leading to a remarkable enhancement of the sensitivity, and the detection limits are 3 ng/ml by spectrophotometry and 5 ng/ml by visual colorimetry, respectively. Using spectrophotometer, a linear calibration curve is obtained over the concentration range of 0 to 50 ng/ml of Al. Further, the color system, consisting of red ([A1L₂]^–), yellow (H₂L), and blue violet (CV⁺), gave clear color changes suitable for visual determination of aluminum with an applicable range of 0 to above 3000 ng/ml. The four different color zones are khaki for 0–5 ng/ml, reddish-brown for 5–200 ng/ml, blue violet for 200 ng/ml-3g/ml, and colorless for more than 3g/ml. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of aluminum in tap waters.     

Determination of organometallics in intra-oral air by LT-GC/ICP-MS

Low temperature gas chromatography (LT-GC) coupled on-line with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used to identify volatile metal and metalloid compounds in human breath. After cryogenic sampling, the gas sample has been separated without any clean-up by increasing the temperature (–100 to +200° C). Simultaneous determination of 11 elements with ICP-MS was used for screening analysis. The detection limits of volatile compounds in intra-oral air are in the range of ng m^–3. Dimethyl selenium has been determined in each gas sample from six test persons in the range of 0.08 to 0.98 g m^–3.     

Integrated procedure for determination of endocrine-disrupting activity in surface waters and sediments by use of the biological technique recombinant yeast assay and chemical analysis by LC–ESI-MS

An integrated procedure using mass spectrometry and molecular biology for determination of estrogenicity in natural waters and sediments is reported. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and pressurized-liquid extraction (PLE), respectively, were used for isolation of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) from surface waters and sediments, followed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry using an electrospray interface (LC–ESI-MS). Twenty seven EDC were determined: non-ionic surfactants (nonylphenol ethoxylate), alkylphenols (e.g. nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A, phthalates, and natural and synthetic steroid sex hormones. Limits of detection varied from 0.02 to 0.22 g L^–1 and from 1 to 10 g kg^–1 in water and sediments, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 65 to 125% and 73 to 97% for waters and sediments, respectively. In addition to LC–ESI-MS determination, extracts obtained by SPE and PLE were analyzed by the recombinant yeast assay (RYA) to assess total estrogenic activity. This bioassay detects natural estrogens and xenoestrogens, producing a quantitative measurement of EDC irrespective of the identity of the chemical responsible for the activity. As a novelty, a relative estrogenicity factor was determined for 19 analytes with EC ₅₀ values ranging from 10^–10 to 10^–9 mol L^–1 for synthetic estrogens, from 10^–7 to 10^–5 mol L^–1 for alkylphenol derivatives, and from 10^–5 to 10^–4 mol L^–1 for phthalates and benzothiazoles. By use of this integrated chemical–ecotoxicological approach good correlation was usually established between chemical composition and estrogenic effects for surface water and sediment samples from Portugal. Estrogenic activity observed was mainly attributed to the presence of nonylphenolic compounds (with concentrations of NP ranging from 0.1 up to 44 g L^–1 in waters and up to 1172 g kg^–1 in sediments), and to the sporadic presence of estrogens, detected at ng L^–1 levels.     

Variation of natural232Th excretion in non-exposed persons

Urinary excretion of²³²Th was assessed, in occupationally non-exposed persons by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Measurements were performed in 55 healthy subjects. Mean daily²³²Th excretion was 47±26 Bq·d^–1 (range 17–121 Bq·d^–1). Results obtained showed no statistically significant correlation with age and no differences were found between males and females. The impact on the assessment of intakes by workers is discussed.     

Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Micro-Extraction of Pesticides from Single Insects with Subsequent GC–MS Analysis

A simple multiresidue method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) micro-extraction was studied to determine various organophosphorus (OPPs) and pyrethroid pesticides in single insects. Optimisation of the relevant parameters showed that, in the case of OPPs and permethrin, extraction from 40 mg of isopod (Porcellio scaber) and the use of C₈-bonded silica and 100 L of ethyl acetate were the best conditions, while silica and 3.5 mL of n-hexane were optimal for the less polar pyrethroids. Subsequently, 1 L (ethyl acetate) or 20 L (n-hexane) of the extracts were analysed by GC–MS without any further clean-up. The limits of detection (LODs), in the SIM mode, were 5–80 ng g^–1 for most OPPs and trans-permethrin (cis-permethrin 0.3 ng g^–1) when using the C₈-bonded silica/ethyl acetate procedure, and 5–35 ng g^–1 for the pyrethroids when using the silica/n-hexane procedure. The recoveries of the OPPs and pyrethroids from the isopods were 52–94%. The practicality of the proposed method was studied for pesticides in isopods which had been fed polluted leaves.     

Bromate assay in water by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry combined with solid-phase extraction cartridges

Based on selective sorption of bromide, bromoacetic acids (BAA) and bromomethanes on solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, a sensitive and convenient method was developed for the determination of bromate in waters by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). Dionex OnGuard Ag and reversed-phase (RP) cartridges were tested for retention characteristics for bromide, BAA and bromomethanes. When a sample acidified with nitric acid was passed through an RP cartridge, BAA and bromomethanes were retained, afterwards bromide was absorbed as a precipitate of silver bromide and bromate was unretained when the nearly neutral sample passed a combination of Ag and H cartridges. After SPE pretreatment the recovery of bromate was 96–106%, and bromide remaining in the aqueous phase was found to be less than 0.06 g L^–1 when the original bromide concentrations were less than 5 mg L^–1. Effectiveness of stacked Ag and H cartridges in removing bromide from chloride-containing samples was also examined. Common cations and other anions did not interfere with bromate determination. The detection limit for bromate is 57 ng L^–1. This method has been applied to analyse waters from various sources, and the recovery of the spiked bromate was in the range of 92–107%.     

Trace and minor elements in four commercial honey brands

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to measure the concentrations of 24 elements in four honey brands commercially available in Austin, Texas (USA). The measured elements (and concentration) were: As, (<30 ng/g); Ba, (<2 g/g); Br, (0.24–0.49 g/g); Ce, (<20 ng/g); Co, (9–180 ng/g); Cr, (37–64 ng/g); Cs, (<3–45 ng/g); Fe, (<4–15.9 g/g); Hf, (<3 ng/g); Hg, (1 ng/g); K, (91–230 g/g); La, (<4 ng/g); Na, (20.3–25.3 g/g); Ni, (0.39–0.77 g/g); Rb, (68–340 ng/g); Sb, (13–61 ng/g); Sc, (<0.3–200 ng/g); Se, (<20 ng/g); Sm, (<9 ng/g); Sr, (<2 ng/g); Th, (<4 ng/g); U, (<30 ng/g); Zn, (3.36–4.61 g/g); and Zr, (<0.5–0.84 g/g). The results obtained were compared to the concentration of the same elements in honey produced or commercially available in Turkey, Mexico, El-Salvador, China, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.     

Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Glutamine in Cerebrospinal Fluid Using 2-Hydroxynaphthaldehyde Derivatizing Reagent

Summary An analytical procedure has been developed for the selective determination of glutamine from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde derivatizing reagent. Arginine and tyramine could also be determined simultaneously. Separation was on a Phenomenex C-18, (150 × 4.6 mm i.d.) column with methanol: water (63:38 v/v) mobile phase at 1mL min^–1 and UV detection at 330nm. Detection limits for glutamine, arginine, and tyramine were 2.8 ng, 17.4 ng and 3.45 ng injection^–1 (5 L), respectively. A large number of amines and amino acids eluted did not affect the determination of glutamine. The analysis of CSF of four patients suffering from hydrocephalus for glutamine indicated concentrations within range 37.4–11.24 g mL^–1 with coefficient of variation 3.0–6.2%.     

Spectrophotometric determination of nitrite in environmental waters using column preconcentration on biphenyl

Column preconcentration methods have been established for the spectrophotometric determination of trace nitrite with sulfanilic acid (SA) orp-aminoacetophenone (AAP) as the diazotizable aromatic amine andN, N-dimethylaniline (DMA) or 1-aminonaphthalene (AN) as the coupling agent, using differention-pairs co-precipitated with biphenyl. Nitrite ion reacts with SA in the pH range 2.0–3.0 and AAP in the pH range 1.7–3.0 in HCl medium to form water-soluble colourless diazonium cations. These cations are subsequently coupled with DMA in the pH range 3.7–6.1 for the SA-DMA system and AN in the pH range 1.7–2.3 for the AAP-AN system to be retained on microcrystalline biphenyl packed in a column. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of DMF and the absorbance is measured by a spectrophotometer at 420 nm for the SA-DMA system and at 517 nm for the AAP-AN system. The calibration was linear over the concentration ranges 0.3–6.0 g of nitrite in 5 ml of DMF solution (i.e., 0.02–0.40 g/ml in the sample solution) for the SA-DMA system and 0.5–7.0 g of nitrite in 5 ml of DMF solution (i.e., 0.03–0.47 g/ml in the sample solution) for the AAP-AN system. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were respectively 2.63 × 10⁴lmol^–1cm^–1 and 1.75 × 10^–3 g cm^–2 for SA-DMA and 3.28 × 10⁴lmol^–1 cm^–1 and 1.40 × 10^–3 g cm^–2 for AAP-AN. The concentration factors were 4 and 16 for SA-DMA and AAP-AN, respectively. The detection limits were 0.0138 and 0.0175 g/ml NO₂ ^– for SA-DMA and AAP-AN, respectively. Seven replicate determinations of a solution containing 3.5 g of nitrite gave mean absorbances of 0.410 and 0.500 with relative standard deviations of 0.51 and 0.55% for SA-DMA and AAP-AN, respectively. Interference from various foreign ions has been studied and the methods have been applied to the determination of nitrite in environmental samples.     

Gas-chromatographische Bestimmung von Wasser mit dem Elektronen-Einfang-Detektor im Nanogramm-Bereich

Zusammenfassung Wasser ist in organischen Lösungsmitteln im ng-Bereich gas-chromatographisch ohne Derivatisierung mittels eines linearisierten Elektroneneinfangdetektors (ECD) nach Abtrennung auf einer Porapak QS-Säule bestimmbar. Ausreichend wasserfreie Lösungsmittel ließen sich durch Trocknen mit aktivierten 4 Å-Molekularsieben oder superaktiven Aluminiumoxiden W 200, Woelm Pharma, Eschwege, herstellen. Um Wasserblindwerte aus der Raumluft auszuschließen, ist es notwendig, sämtliche Operationen in einer Box mit Umlauftrocknung durchzuführen. Wassermengen bis zu 15 ng absolut sind bestimmbar. Im Konzentrationsbereich 7–150 g/ml ist die Detektoranzeige für Wasser linear.

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Gas-chromatographic determination of water with the electron-capture-detector in the nanogram range

Summary Water can be determined directly in organic solvents in the ng range after separation on a porapak-QS column using a linear electron-capture detector (ECD). Organic solvents can be dried by activated 4 Å molecular sieves to a water content of 5 g/ml, about 0.3×10^–3 molar. To exclude water contamination all operations, storage of solvents and standards included, were made in a glove box with permanent drying of the inside atmosphere. The EC-detector allows to determine 15 ng of water absolute. In the range of 7–150 g/ml a linear response for water by the ECD has been found.

     

Detection of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in chlorinated water at nanogram per litre levels by SPME–GC–ECD

A method involving solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography with electron capture detection (SPME–GC–ECD) has been optimised for identification and quantification of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) at ng L^–1 concentrations in disinfected (chlorinated) water samples. A central composite design was used for factorial analysis of four factors, three factors related to the SPME (PDMS fibre) procedure (adsorption time, temperature of the sample during headspace sampling, and desorption time) and one related to the GC operation (the rate of increase of the temperature of the GC oven). Good linearity (linear correlation coefficient greater than 0.999) was observed for TCA concentrations up to 50 ng L^–1, limits of detection and quantification of 0.7 and 2.3 ng L^–1, respectively, and good precision (relative standard deviation 2.8% and 3.4% for 5 and 30 ng L^–1 of TCA, respectively). Besides TCA, this system also enables the detection and quantification of the four trihalomethanes in the g L^–1 concentration range with limits of detection and quantification of approximately 0.3 g L^–1 and 1 g L^–1, respectively.     

Application of symmetry coupling coefficients in the evaluation of the electronic spectra of d 7 ions

The optical absorption spectrum of cobalt chloride thiourea has been studied at room and liquid air temperatures. The results have been interpreted using group theoretical methods taking into account all the quartet states and several doublet states. Crystal field, electrostatic, and spin-orbit coupling interactions were included to yield the allowed transitions with the relative transition probabilities. The experimental results were interpreted for the following set of parameters: B = 750cm^–1, C = 3100cm^–1, = 7370cm^–1, = -200 cm^–1, = 500cm^–1, and = 450 cm^–1.     

Determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by column solid phase extraction

Methods are described for the determination of trace and ultra trace amounts of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts. Separation and preconcentration of trace metals is achieved by a column solid phase extraction procedure using silica gel modified with derivatives of dithiocarbamates — Na-DDTC (sodium diethyldithio-carbamate and HMDTC (ammonium hexamethylene-dithiocarbamate) as column packing material. The influence of the sorbent preparation procedure on the degree of sorption of the trace analytes is examined for different pH values of the sample solution. Isobutylmethyl ketone (IBMK) is proposed as an effective eluent for quantitative elution of retained metal ions. Optimal instrumental parameters for ETAAS determination of preconcentrated elements in organic eluate are presented. Practical application of sorbents in analysis of natural waters and alkali and alkaline earth salts is demonstrated. Proposed preconcentration procedure combined with ETAAS determination of trace analytes allows the determination of 0.04 g l^–1 Cd, 0.1 g l^–1 Cr, Cu, and Mn and 0.3 g l^–1 Co, Fe, Ni and Pb in natural waters and 1.10^–7% Cd, 3.10^–7% Cr and Mn, 7.10^–7% Co, Ni and Pb and 2.10^–6% Cu and Fe in alkali and alkaline earth salts.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of nickel as Ni-(PAR)2-(CTAB)2 complex in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and steels

A red, water-soluble complex of nickel with PAR can be extracted into chloroform with CTAB at pH 7.0. The system obeys Beer's law upto 0.5 g/ml with a molar absorptivity of 45 200 L·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 540 nm. Job's method of continuous variations revealed that the composition of the extracting species is 1:2:2 for nickel:PAR:CTAB. Based on this extraction, a highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of nickel in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and in steels, after prior separation of iron and manganese, was developed. The standard deviation was 0.04–0.127 g for 5–25 g of nickel.     

Determination of osmium in waste water by graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of osmium in waste water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with a graphite furnace atomiser has been investigated. The atomisation characteristics of osmium on the atomiser were found to result in optimal ashing and atomisation temperatures of 300–500 and 3180 °C, respectively.The characteristic mass (the mass of element giving 0.0044 abs.) of osmium after optimization was found to be 1.6ng, which is better than obtained with flame AAS and ultraviolet/visible (UV) absorption spectrophotometry. The detection limit (s/n = 3) was 3.6ng (or 0.36 (g ml^–1). The relative std. deviation obtained with graphite furnace AAS was 3.0%.The interference caused by large amounts of common cations and anions in waste water were evaluated and thiourea as matrix modifier was shown to be able to eliminate many interferences. The recovery of osmium spiked in waste water was considered almost satisfactory at the 1–50 g ml^–1 range and the results were shown to well agree with the analytical values obtained by UV absorption spectrophotometry.