On-line determination of palladium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with a separation/preconcentration minicolumn containing a new sorbent

A method was developed for the on-line determination of palladium in complex matrices with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using Amberlite XAD-16 resin functionalized with 2-[2-(5-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazolyl)]-azonaphthol (TTAN) reagent. Optimum experimental conditions such as pH of sample, type of eluent, amount of resin, volumes of sample and eluent solution, flow rates of sample and eluent, and effect of interfering ions were established. A 0.1?mol?L^?1 thiourea solution in 0.5?mol?L^?1 HCl was used as the eluent and subsequently transportation the analyte ions into the nebulizer–burner system for atomization. The synthesized chelating resin material showed excellent chemical and mechanical resistance, fast adsorption kinetics permitting the use of high sample flow rates without significant losses of retention efficiency. The detection limit of the method was 1.5?µg?L^?1 while the relative standard deviation (RSD%) was 2.4% at 0.1?mg?L^?1 Pd(II) level. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of palladium in the catalytic converter and water samples.     

Precipitation-dissolution system for silver preconcentration and determination by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In this paper, flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the determination of silver in various materials. The proposed preconcentration method is based on the continuous precipitation of silver as p-dimethylaminobenzilidene-rhodanine (PDBR) complex and dissolution of the precipitate with potassium cyanide. EDTA was added to the sample solution to mask large concentrations of Fe(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Co(II) and Al(III). An enhancement factor of 20 was obtained for a preconcentration time of 3 min, resulting in a sampling frequency of 16 h(-1). The detection limit (3sigma) in the sample solution was 5 ngml(-1). The relative standard deviation at 30 ngml(-1) level was 4.7%. Analytical results obtained for alloy, biological reference material and ore samples analyzed were in good agreement with the certified values and comparable to those obtained with other techniques.     

Development of a cloud point extraction and preconcentration method for silver prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The possibility was investigated of using 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) for Ag(I) concentration by micellar extraction at cloud point (CP) temperature and subsequent determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The method is based on the complexation of Ag(I) with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) in the presence of non-ionic micelles of Triton X-114. The effect of experimental conditions such as pH, concentration of chelating agent and surfactant, equilibration temperature and time on cloud point extraction was studied. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration of 10 mL of water sample in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-114 and 2 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ 2-mercaptobenzothiazole permitted the detection of 2.2 ng mL⁻¹ silver. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 10–200 ng mL⁻¹, and the recovery of more than 99% was achieved. The proposed method was used in FAAS determination of Ag(I) in water samples.     

Separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of gold(III) ions using modified multiwalled carbon nanotube sorbent prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes are attractive as sorbents for SPE because they can be used for enrichment of organic compounds and metal ions at trace levels. In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were oxidized with concentrated HNO3, and then the oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes were modified with 5-(4'-dimethylamino-benzyliden)-rhodanine. The modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes were used as a solid sorbent for separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of Au(III) ions. The sorption of Au(III) ions was quantitative in the pH range of 2.0-5.0, whereas quantitative desorption occurred instantaneously with 5.0 mL 2.0 M Na2S2O3. The eluted solution was aspirated directly into the flame for atomic absorption spectrometry. The proposed method resulted in an enrichment factor of 94. The RSD of the method was +/- 1.11% (n=10, 2.0 microg/mL) and the LOD was 0.15 ng/mL. The calibration curve for Au(III) was linear between 0.53 ng/mL and 36.0 microg/mL in the initial solution, with an R2 value of 0.9999. The sorbent capacity of the modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes was 7.3 mg Au(III)/g sorbent. The influences of the experimental parameters, including sample pH, sample flow rate, eluent volume and flow rate, sample volume, and interference of some ions on the recoveries of the Au ions, were investigated. The proposed method was applied for preconcentration and determination of Au in different samples.     

New use of polypyrrole-chloride for selective preconcentration of copper prior to its determination of flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Polypyrrole-chloride was studied as a new sorbent for preconcentration of copper(II) using solid-phase extraction prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The sorbent showed an extremely high selectivity towards copper(II) as an anionic chelate, i.e. Cu (pyrocatechol violet)₂²⁻ in the pH range of 4-7. Copper(II) as Cu (pyrocatechol violet)₂²⁻ was selectively retained on a column containing 1.0 g of polypyrrole-chloride and quantitatively eluted by 3 mL of 2.0 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid. The calibration graph was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 at levels near the detection limit and up to at least 50 μg L⁻¹. When applied for preconcentration and determination of copper in tap water, waste water and hot spring water, the recoveries were found to be 96, 101 and 95%, respectively, with high precision (% relative standard deviation <4%) and low detection limit (0.87 μg L⁻¹). Verification of the accuracy was carried out by the analysis of a standard reference material (BCR 715 wastewater-SRM). The relative error was +3.33%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in tap water, waste water and hot spring water samples.     

Determination of gold in ore by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with flow-injection on-line sorbent extraction preconcentration

Gold in ores was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following on-line preconcentration by sorbent extraction in a flow-injection system. The medium polarity adsorption resin Amberlite XAD-8 packed in a 220-μl micro-column was used to collect gold(III) from hydrochloric acid sample solutions for 40 s at 7.6 ml/min. Ethanol was used to elute the adsorbed analytes into the nebulizer. Optimization studies were made on sample loading rate, elution rate and sample acidity. Some possible interferences on the determination are discussed. A 35-fold enrichment was achieved at a sampling frequency of 60 h^?1 and with an RSD of 1.4%. The detection limit (3σ) and 2 μg l^?1. Results for gold in ore samples showed good agreement with those obtained using activated carbon adsorption preconcentration. The recoveries were 97–108%.     

On-line sorbent extraction, preconcentration and determination of lead by atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the quantitative preconcentration of lead based on an existing batch process was developed for implementation in a flow system including a flame AAS detector. Lead can be quantitatively preconcentrated as pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate or dithizonate on an activated carbon minicolumn. The chelates are eluted in methyl isobutyl ketone and introduced directly into the nebuliser-burner. An enrichment factor of 50 is typically obtained for a preconcentration time of 2 min (lead can be determined at concentrations between 15 and 400 ng/ml), which results in a throughput of ca. 25 samples per hr. The sensitivity achieved with the two reagents is similar, but the selectivity provided by APDC exceeds that of dithizone. Based on the results obtained in the determination of lead in reference materials (minerals and skim milk), the proposed APDC method is applicable to real samples.     

Selective cloud point extraction and preconcentration of trace amounts of silver as a dithizone complex prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination

Dithizone (diphenylthiocarbazone) was used as a complexing agent in cloud point extraction for the first time and applied for selective preconcentration of trace amounts of silver. The analyte in the initial aqueous solution was acidified with sulfuric acid (pH<1) and Triton X-114 was added as a surfactant. After phase separation, based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant rich phase was diluted with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the analyte determined in the enriched solution by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, a preconcentration factor of 43 was obtained for only 10 ml of sample. The analytical curve was linear in the range of 3-200 ng ml⁻¹ and the limit of detection was 0.56 ng ml⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the determination of silver in water samples.     

Lead preconcentration with flow injection for flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The flow-injecton preconcentration of lead with immobilised reagents under a variety of conditions is discussed. Timed sample loading and matrix removal without passing the matrix to the nebuliser were achieved simply with one valve. Reagent consumption and calibration time were reduced by the addition of further valves. A system design incorporating control of the timing of operations by a commercial autosample is described. The effects of pH and interferent ions were examined. Water samples were analysed against aqueous standards and as standard additions solutions. For an analysis time of about 3 min a preconcentration factor of about 40 was obtained for both peak height and area measurements. Detection limits of down to 1.4 ml^?1 were obtained.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of trace amount of rhodium after separation and preconcentration onto modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a new solid sorbent

The present article reports on the application of modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) as a new, easily prepared and stable solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace rhodium ion in aqueous solution. Rhodium ions were complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) in the pH range of 3.2-4.7 and then the formed Rh-PAN complex was adsorbed on the oxidized MWCNTs. The adsorbed complex was eluted from MWCNTs sorbent with 5.0 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The rhodium in eluted solution was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Linear range for the determination of rhodium was maintained between 0.16 ng mL⁻¹ and 25.0 μg mL⁻¹ in initial solution. Relative standard deviation for the 10 replicated determination of 4.0 μg mL⁻¹ of rhodium was ±0.97%. Detection limit was 0.010 ng mL⁻¹ in initial solution (3S_bl, n = 10) and preconcentration factor was 120. Sensitivity for 1% absorbance of rhodium (III) was 0.112 μg mL⁻¹. The sorption capacity of oxidized MWCNTs for Rh (III) was 6.6 mg g⁻¹. The effects of the experimental parameters, including the sample pH, flow rates of sample and eluent solution, eluent type, breakthrough volume and interference ions were studied for the preconcentration of Rh³⁺. The proposed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of rhodium in different samples.     

Sulfur-nanoparticle-based method for separation and preconcentration of some heavy metals in marine samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination

The application of sulfur-nanoparticle-loaded alumina as an efficient adsorbent for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) and determination of trace amounts of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb ions was investigated in marine samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The nanometer-sized sulfur particles were synthesized in situ, physically loaded onto alumina microparticles, and the parameters influencing the preconcentration of the analytes, such as the pH, solution flow rate and volume, eluent solution, and interfering ions, were examined. The results showed that the optimal conditions for quantitative recovery of the metal ions by adsorption and elution on the sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) was achieved by employing a flow rate of 15 mL min(-1), a pH of 8.5 for the sample solutions, and an eluent composed of 3.0 mol L(-1) HNO(3) in methanol. The detection limits of this method for Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb ions were 0.30, 0.21, 0.24, and 0.63 μg L(-1) (n=10), respectively. Application of the proposed method to the analysis of fish certified reference material (DORM-3) produced results that were in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was also successfully applied to the determination of analytes in marine samples, including seawater, fish, and oysters.     

Silk fibroin as a sorbent for on-line extraction and preconcentration of copper with detection by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Silk fibroin is a kind of polypeptide with functional amino acids in its structure. The electric charges in its molecular chains originating from the dissociation of acidic groups, i.e., hydroxyl, phenol and carboxyl, provide vast potentials for the retention of metal species of interest. In this study, the selective retention of Cu²⁺ with silk fibroin at pH 6.0 was investigated and a novel on-line procedure for separation/preconcentration of Cu²⁺ from complex sample matrices was thus developed by using a sequential injection system with an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. A novel concept of enrichment index (EI), i.e., defined as enrichment factor (EF) obtained by consuming unity of sample volume (ml), was proposed for evaluating the enrichment efficiency of a flow-based preconcentration procedure. With a sampling volume of 900 μl, an EI of 30.3 (EF = 27.3) was achieved, which was much improved as compared to that of reported procedures. A detection limit of 8.0 ng l⁻¹ was achieved within a linear range of 0.025-1.5 μg l⁻¹ along with a precision of 2.2% R.S.D. at 0.5 μg l⁻¹. The practical applicability of this procedure was validated by analyzing a certified reference material of riverine water (GBW08608) and a certified reference material of seawater (NASS-5) achieving satisfactory agreements between the certified and the obtained values. A spiking recovery was also performed by using a cave water sample.     

交联壳聚糖分离富集-火焰原子吸收法测定水样中痕量银

以甲醛、环硫氯丙烷为交联剂,由壳聚糖合成了一种新型的交联壳聚糖微球(FCCIS)分离树脂,研究了不同条件下FCCTS对Ag(Ⅰ)的吸附性能.在pH 3.6时FCCTS对Ag(Ⅰ)定量吸附,吸附在树脂上的Ag(Ⅰ)可用0.5 moL/L的氨水将其洗脱,用火焰原子吸收光谱测定.该法对Ag(Ⅰ)的检出限为61 ng/mL(3σ,n=8),相对标准偏差为2.2%(n=7,ρ=2μg/mL),线性范围为0.05～4μg/mL,加标回收率在98.8%～101.7%之间.该法已用于水样中痕量银测定.     

Use of silica gel chemically modified with zirconium phosphate for preconcentration and determination of lead and copper by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An analytical method using silica gel chemically modified with zirconium (IV) phosphate for preconcentration of lead and copper, in a column system, and their sequential determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), was developed. Sample solutions are passed through a glass column packed with 100 mg of the sorbent material, at pH 4.5, and lead and copper are eluted with 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ at a flow rate of 2.0 ml min⁻¹. The extraction of copper is affected by Fe(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) while only Fe(II) interferes in the lead determination. These interferences may be overcome with an appropriate addition of a KI or NaF solution. An enrichment factor of 30 was obtained for both metals. While the limits of detection (3σ) were 6.1 and 1.1 μg l⁻¹, for Pb and Cu, respectively, the limits of determination were 16.7 and 3.3 μg l⁻¹. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) obtained for 3.3 μg l⁻¹ of Cu and 16.7 μg l⁻¹ of Pb were 4.3 and 4.7%, respectively, calculated from ten measurements. The proposed method was evaluated with reference material and was applied for the determination of lead and copper in industrial and river waters.     

Determination of lead in preserved egg by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after chemically modified preconcentration

A sensitive method for the determination of lead in preserved egg by flame absorption spectrometry using ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate-polystyrene chemically modified platinum wire matrix is presented. The modified platinum wire matrix, after preconcentrating the lead, is placed in a flame burner for direct atomization and measurement. The concentration range is linear between 5 and 500 ng/ml lead in solution and the detection limit is 0.65 ng/ml. This new technique is sensitive and convenient.     

Peat as a natural solid-phase for copper preconcentration and determination in a multicommuted flow system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The physical and chemical characteristics of peat were assessed through measurement of pH, percentage of organic matter, cationic exchange capacity (CEC), elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and quantitative analysis of metals by ICP OES. Despite the material showed to be very acid in view of the percentage of organic matter, its CEC was significant, showing potential for retention of metal ions. This characteristic was exploited by coupling a peat mini-column to a flow system based on the multicommutation approach for the in-line copper concentration prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination. Cu(II) ions were adsorbed at pH 4.5 and eluted with 0.50 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃. The influence of chemical and hydrodynamic parameters, such as sample pH, buffer concentration, eluent type and concentration, sample flow-rate and preconcentration time were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, a linear response was observed between 16 and 100 μg L⁻¹, with a detection limit estimated as 3 μg L⁻¹ at the 99.7% confidence level and an enrichment factor of 16. The relative standard deviation was estimated as 3.3% (n = 20). The mini-column was used for at least 100 sampling cycles without significant variation in the analytical response. Recoveries from copper spiked to lake water or groundwater as well as concentrates used in hemodialysis were in the 97.3-111% range. The results obtained for copper determination in these samples agreed with those achieved by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) at the 95% confidence level.     

Application of modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes for palladium preconcentration and determination in water and soil samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new solid-phase extraction method for determination of palladium by atomic absorption spectrometry is described. Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified with 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (MWCNT-[BMIM]PF₆) and supported on sawdust was used as an adsorbent for preconcentration of palladium. Palladium ions are retained on (MWCNT-[BMIM]PF₆) adsorbent as [PdI₄]^2? and eluted from the column with a thiosulfate–ammonia mixture. The optimum conditions for the adsorption were evaluated by changing various parameters such as pH, sample volume, concentration and volume of eluent, iodide concentration and interfering ions to achieve highest sensitivity and selectivity. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 2–120 ng mL^?1 of palladium in the initial solution and the limit of detection based on 3S_b was 0.41 ng mL^?1. The method was applied to the determination of palladium in water, wastewater and soil samples.     

Cloud point extraction and preconcentration of gold in geological matrices prior to flame atomic absorption determination

Brilliant green was used as a complexing agent in cloud point extraction (CPE) and applied for selective preconcentration of trace amounts of gold in geological matrices. The analyte in the initial aqueous solution was acidified with hydrochloric acid (0.1 M) and octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114) was added as a surfactant. After phase separation, based on the cloud point separation of the mixture, the surfactant rich phase was diluted with methanol and the analyte determined in the surfactant rich phase by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). After optimization of the complexation and extraction conditions, a preconcentration factor of 31 was obtained for only 10 mL of sample. The analytical curve was linear in the range of 3–1000 ng mL⁻¹ and the limit of detection was 1.5 ng mL⁻¹. The proposed method was applied to the determination of gold in geological samples.