Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Determination and On-line Preconcentration of Palladium

Palladium was determined in pharmaceuticals by direct graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) method. The detection limit was 0.1 μg/g in 5% solution; the recovery of 0.5–2.0 μg/g Pd spike was close to 100%. The flow injection GFAAS method was worked out using oxime and iminodiacetic acid ethyl cellulose (IDAEC) microcolumns for preconcentration of Pd in aqueous and 50% methanol solutions. The optimal pH range for preconcentration was 2–5. At 20-fold enrichment the detection limits for Pd were 0.39 μg/liter for oxime cellulose and 0.42 μg/liter for IDAEC.     

Column Preconcentration of Aluminum and Copper(II) in Alloys, Biological Samples, and Environmental Samples with Alizarin Red S and Cetyltrimethylammonium-Perchlorate Adsorbent Supported on Naphthalene Using Spectrometry

A column method has been established for the preconcentration of aluminum and copper(II) with Alizarin Red S and a cetyltrimethylammonium-perchlorate ion pair supported on naphthalene, using a simple glass-tipped tube. Aluminum and copper(II) react with Alizarin Red S to form water-soluble colored chelate anions. These chelate anions form water-insoluble ternary complexes with the adsorbent on the inactive surface of naphthalene packed into a column. They are quantitatively retained in the pH ranges of 4.7-5.2 for aluminum and 5.0-10.0 for copper. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) for aluminum and 5 ml of ethanol for copper and the absorbance was measured with a spectrometer at 525 nm for aluminum and at 529 nm for copper. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 0.25-5.0 μg of aluminum in 5 ml of DMF solution and 0.50-12.0 μg of copper in 5 ml of ethanol solution. The molar absorptivities and Sandell′s sensitivities were respectively calculated to be 2.8 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 9.62 × 10⁻⁴ μg · cm⁻² for aluminum and 2.5 × 10⁴ liter · mol⁻¹ · cm⁻¹ and 2.5 × 10⁻³ μg · cm⁻² for copper. Seven replicate determinations of sample solutions containing 2.5 μg of aluminum and 6.0 μg of copper gave mean absorbances of 0.520 and 0.480 with relative standard deviations of 1.67 and 0.33%, respectively. Interference due to various foreign ions has been studied and the method has been applied to the determination of aluminum in standard alloys, tea leaves, vehicle particulates, copper in coal fly ash, and commercial salt samples.     

Comparative study of conventional and multivariate methods for aluminum determination in soft drinks by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present study, conventional and multivariate methods were used to optimize conditions for direct determination of aluminum in soft drinks by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. For the conventional method, the optimized experimental parameters were: pyrolysis and atomization temperatures and chemical modifier. A multivariate study was performed using factorial design and the optimized parameters were the same employed in the univariate method including pyrolysis time. For the conventional method, the optimal conditions obtained were: pyrolysis temperature of 1600 °C, atomization temperature of 2700 °C, and Zr as permanent modifier. For the factorial design in the multivariate optimization, the Pareto´s chart showed that the atomization temperature, the modifier, and the pyrolysis temperature presented a significant effect on the integrated absorbance and the interaction between pyrolysis temperature and pyrolysis time also had a significant effect on the signal. Better results were obtained using Zr as modifier. The surface response indicates that the lowest pyrolysis (1100 °C) and atomization temperatures (2350 °C) provide higher absorbance for aluminum in soft drinks. Characteristic mass of 23.4 and 19.4 pg and LOD of 17.9 and 11.3 μg L^− 1 was obtained to conventional and multivariate methods, respectively. The calibration was accomplished with standard addition in a range of 60–200 μg L^− 1 for conventional method and of 38–200 μg L^− 1for multivariate method with R higher than 0.99 for both conditions. Recoveries in both studies were nearly 100% with adequate precision for GFAAS analysis. For the Al concentrations level found in soft drinks, both experimental conditions are adequate as good results were obtained in recovery studies. The Al concentrations in different soft drinks range from 147.9 to 599.5 μg L⁻¹. Higher concentrations were found in soft drinks sold in Al cans than in PET bottles, indicating that contamination can occur.     

Selenium Determination in Biological Matrices

In this study, we discuss some relevant aspects concerning the determination of selenium in biological materials with special reference to fluorometry and hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS) techniques. The two methods may be applied without modifications to the analysis of Se in a wide spectrum of specimen types, and we describe their reliability in serum and hair analyses. Thirty-six independent control serum samples, the concentrations of which were unknown to the analyst, were analyzed in duplicate using both techniques in the Italian External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS). Accuracy was assessed by comparing Se values with those previously assigned by the organizers of the scheme using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), which is the most frequently used technique for selenium determination in serum among the participants in the Italian EQAS. The results confirmed that fluorometry has a higher degree of accuracy than HG-AAS: the mean differences between observed and expected values were 1.5 μg/liter (95% confidence interval, −1.06 to 3.97) for fluorometry and −1.1 μg/liter (95% confidence interval, −5.05 to 2.76) for Hg-AAS. We also report some results obtained for the determination of Se in hair. Since a critical step in hair preparation is the pretreatment for removal of external contamination, we compared six different washing procedures. In general, Se is poorly leached from hair, but the efficiency of removal differed with the substance used, ranging from 0 to 13% of the original content. A nonionic detergent like Triton X-100 offers the advantage of safe working conditions and a substantial reduction in costs compared with organic solvents. Lastly, in a consistent group (n= 131) of women, Se in hair was found to be strongly reduced by the use of dye (389.9 ng/g vs 498.7 ng/g,P< 0.001). We recommend recording information on cosmetic treatments when hair is collected to evaluate Se reference values in epidemiological studies.     

Direct determination of aluminium in serum and urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using ruthenium as permanent modifier

Ruthenium (Ru), thermally deposited on a integrated platform graphite furnace, was investigated as a permanent modifier for the determination of Aluminum (Al) in blood serum and urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The platform was treated with 500 μg of Ru as previously described. The pyrolysis and atomization temperatures for each material were of 1300 and 2300 °C, for serum sample and of 1000 and 2400 °C, for urine. The characteristic mass were of 31 and 33 pg for Al in serum sample and urine, respectively (recommended of 31 pg for Al in nitric acid 0.2% (v/v)). For this reason, the calibration was made with aqueous solutions for both the samples. Calibration curves presented r of 0.99145 and 0.99991 for serum and urine, respectively. With the optimized temperatures, being analyzed eight spiked blood serum samples, the recovery was between 95.90 and 113.50%. Two certified urines samples were analyzed with good agreement between experimental and reference values. In both the samples the R.S.D. were <5% (n=3). The detection limit (k=3, n=10) was of 0.40 μg of Al per liter for both the samples. The absorption pulses obtained were symmetrical, with very low background and without interferences. The life time of the tube-platform was higher than 600 cycles of atomizations for both the urine and serum samples.     

A new selective reagent for the spectrofluorometric determination of beryllium

The fluorescence properties of the beryllium and aluminum complexes with 2, 4-dioxo-4-(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone-3-yl) butyric acid ethyl ester (Ligand) were studied and optimal conditions for their fluorometric determination were established. Beryllium can be determined in the linearity range of 0.5–2.0 μg/ml and aluminum 0.5–1.5 μg/ml. The effect of diverse ions on the determination of beryllium is discussed.A simple procedure for the fluorometric determination of beryllium in human blood plasma in the concentration range of 5–50 μg Be/ml is described.     

Evaluation of ammonia as diluent for serum sample preparation and determination of selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of total selenium in serum samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was evaluated. The method involved direct introduction of 1:5 diluted serum samples (1% v/v NH₄OH+0.05% w/v Triton X-100^®) into transversely heated graphite tubes, and the use of 10 μg Pd+3 μg Mg(NO₃)₂ as chemical modifier. Optimization of the modifier mass and the atomization temperature was conducted by simultaneously varying such parameters and evaluating both the integrated absorbance and the peak height/peak area ratio. The latter allowed the selection of compromise conditions rendering good sensitivity and adequate analyte peak profiles. A characteristic mass of 49 pg and a detection limit (3s) of 6 μg 1⁻¹ Se, corresponding to 30 μg l⁻¹ Se in the serum sample, were obtained. The analyte addition technique was used for calibration. The accuracy was assessed by the determination of total selenium in Seronorm™ Trace Elements Serum Batch 116 (Nycomed Pharma AS). The method was applied for the determination of total selenium in ten serum samples taken from individuals with no known physical affection. The selenium concentration ranged between 79 and 147 μg l⁻¹, with a mean value of 114±22 μg l⁻¹.     

The rapid separation of trace metals from neutron-activated saline matrices by chelation on a poly-5-vinyl-8-hydroxyquinoline column

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of biological and environmental samples suffers from interferences caused by high salt concentrations. Poly-5-vinyl-8-hydroxy-quinoline coated on controlled pore diameter glass beads is suggested as a chelating column for the rapid removal of aluminum, vanadium, copper and manganese from neutron-activated sea-water samples. Separation from bulk elements is satisfactory at flow rates of 20 ml min⁻¹. With addition of carriers and with chemical yield determinations, relative standard deviations of 2–10% can be achieved for spike concentrations of 0.1 μg Mn ml⁻¹, 0.3 μg V ml⁻¹, 20 μg Al ml⁻¹ and 1.0 μg Cu ml⁻¹.     

On-line preconcentration and GFAAS determination of trace metals in waters

An on-line separation preconcentration system coupled to electrothermal (graphite furnace) atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. A miniature column packed with iminodiacetic acid ethyl cellulose (IDAEC) was inserted into the loop. A peristaltic pump was used to deliver solutions. A flow of air was driven into the packed column, evacuating it between sample loading, washing and elution. The retained analyte was introduced on-line to graphite furnace using countercurrent elution with HNO₃. The system was applied for the determination of V, Co and Pb in medicinal mineral water samples, and nickel in sea water samples. The detection limits (3σ) were 0.058, 0.022, 0.067, 0.062 μg/l for Co, Pb, V, and Ni, respectively. The R.S.D. (n=5) was <5% at 0.4–1.0 μg/l concentration range.     

Mechanochemical activation of aluminum: 1. Joint grinding of aluminum and graphite

Changes in the crystal structure and composition of aluminum and graphite powder mixtures in the course of their joint mechanical treatment in a vibration mill were monitored by the adsorption and X-ray diffraction techniques. It was shown that, at absorbed energy doses of 8–10 kJ/g, the grinding and mixing of aluminum with graphite is completed by the formation of an intermediate structure of Al/C composite, where aluminum showed an anomalously high reactivity. The interaction of aluminum with water was used to study its reactivity in the composite. The formation of the composite preceded the stage of chemical interaction between carbon and aluminum atoms.Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 66, No. 6, 2004, pp. 811–818.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Streletskii, Kolbanev, Borunova, Leonov, Butyagin.     

Photometric determination of iron (III)

A sensitive colored reaction of tiron with iron (III) is described. It is based on a complex formation between tiron and iron (III) in basic medium. The method is suitable to determine 0.4–10 ppm of iron (III) with a relative standard deviation of 0.45–1.4% depending on the concentration level, molar absorptivity of 5.7 × 10³ liter mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, and Sandell sensitivity index of 0.0098 μg/cm².Because of being simple and rapid, this method can certainly be used in routine analysis.     

Surface Area Study of High Area Cobalt Aluminate Particles Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Cobalt aluminate particles were prepared by the sol-gel method, starting from aluminum sec-butoxide and cobalt salts with a Co:Al ratio of 1:3. Samples with the same composition were also prepared by the citrate-gel method from cobalt and aluminum nitrates and citric acid. The particles were calcined to temperatures between 400 and 1000°C, for the formation of the mixed oxide having spinel structure. The surface properties of the different samples (BET surface area and pore size distribution) were measured. The highest BET surface area obtained (about 339 m²/g) corresponds to a sample prepared by cobalt acetate and aluminum sec-butoxide, calcined at 400°C. The surface area of the sample is reduced progressively as the sample is calcined to higher temperatures (to about 65 m²/g at 1000°C). Narrow pore size distributions were observed with average pore radius ranging from 17–20 Å, for samples heated to 400°C, to about 55–65 Å, for samples heated to 1000°C. The different surface areas and porosities obtained for particles prepared by different methods, different precursors or calcination temperatures, are discussed.     

Mechanical activation of aluminum: 2. Size,shape, and structure of particles

The structure of active Al/C composite prepared by the mechanochemical method from aluminum and graphite powders (10–30 wt % C) is studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, atomic force microscopy, local elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, as well as by adsorption and sedimentation measurements. It is established that the particles of chemically active Al/C composite represent porous plate-like aggregates with a mean size smaller than 2.5–5 m and composed of nanocrystalline aluminum blocks with a size of 15–60 nm distributed in a loose amorphous carbon. Single aluminum particles with a size of up to 10 nm are also observed; however, their weight fraction is small.Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 66, No. 6, 2004, pp. 819–828.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Streletskii, Pivkina, Kolbanev, Borunova, Leipunskii, Pshechenkov, Lomaeva, Polunina, Frolov, Butyagin.     

Hydride Generation Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Determination of Bismuth in Clinical Samples with in Situ Preconcentration

A sensitive method for the determination of bismuth in clinical samples using hydride generation/trapping and atomization in a graphite furnace is described. Addition of Pd-Ir to the furnace tube surface before hydride trapping leads to great improvement in the sensitivity of the method. Calibration is achieved with simple aqueous standards carried through this same procedure. An absolute detection limit (3σ) of 100 pg and a concentration detection limit of 20 ng/liter are obtained using 5-ml sample volumes. Corresponding precisions of 8-12% are typical for analyses of these samples. Microwave-assisted sample digestion procedures using HNO₃ and H₂O₂ were used to decompose clinical materials. The method was used to determine Bi in human blood, serum, urine, and tissue before and after intake of therapeutic doses of colloidal bismuth citrate.     

Fluorometric determination of hydrogen peroxide using resorufin and peroxidase

A fluorometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide using resorufin as a substrate for peroxidase is described. Two procedures were developed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide. One involves the addition of hydrogen peroxide sample to a solution of peroxidase and resorufin in phosphate buffer, pH 6.4. Fluorescence measurements are performed before and after hydrogen peroxide addition. The within-run CVs for final concentrations of hydrogen peroxide of 200 and 40 nmol/liter were 1.7 and 7.6%, respectively, and the limit of quantitation was 9 nmol/liter. The second procedure, in which the initial reaction of hydrogen peroxide with resorufin is performed in citrate buffer at pH 4.5, and then the fluorescence is measured after the pH is adjusted to 9.2 with borate buffer, has a limit of quantitation of 4.4 nmol/liter with a within-run CV of 6.5% for a final hydrogen peroxide concentration of 20 nmol/liter. The method is linear at least up to 1 μmol/liter.     

Use of TLC-Densitometric Method for Determination of Valproic Acid in Capsules

Determination of valproic acid in the drug was carried out on the aluminum silica gel 60F₂₅₄ plates and using acetone–water–chloroform–ethanol–ammonia at a volume ratio of 30:1:8:5:11 as the mobile phase, respectively. Two methods of detection of valproic acid were used. The first was a 2% aqueous CuSO₄×5H₂O solution, and the second was a 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-aluminum chloride-iron (III) chloride system. The applied TLC-densitometric method is selective, linear, accurate, precise, and robust, regardless of the visualizing reagent used for the determination of valproic acid in Convulex capsules. It has low limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ), which are equal to 5.8 μg/spot and 17.4 μg/spot using a 2% aqueous CuSO₄×5H₂O solution as visualizing agent and also 0.32 μg/spot and 0.97 μg/spot using a 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-aluminum chloride-iron (III) chloride system as visualizing reagent, respectively. The described analytical method can additionally be used to study the identity of valproic acid in a pharmaceutical preparation. The linearity range was found to be 20.00–80.00 μg/spot and 1.00–2.00 μg/spot for valproic acid detected on chromatographic plates using a 2% aqueous CuSO₄×5H₂O solution and the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-aluminum chloride-iron (III) chloride system, respectively. A coefficient of variation that was less than 3% confirms the satisfactory accuracy and precision of the proposed method. The results of the assay of valproic acid equal 96.2% and 97.0% in relation to the label claim that valproic acid fulfill pharmacopoeial requirements. The developed TLC-densitometric method can be suitable for the routine analysis of valproic acid in pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed TLC-densitometry may be an alternative method to the modern high-performance liquid chromatography and square wave voltammetry in the control of above-mentioned substances, and it can be applied when other analytical techniques is not affordable in the laboratory.     

Critical study of the speciation of aluminum in biological fluids by size-exclusion chromatography and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Pooled serum and the serum of a healthy volunteer were spiked with aluminum and aluminum species were separated on Bio-gel columns. With the P10 column, less than 40% of the aluminum was eluted with the high-molecular-weight (m.w.>20 00) fraction; the total aluminum concentration was 600 μg l^?1. Tw lower m.w. fractions were also recovered. With the P4 column, only one high m.w. (65–100%) and one low m.w. (0–53%) fraction were recovered; the total Al concentrations was 10–110 μg l^?1. When a hemofiltrate obtained from uremic patients on regular hemofiltration and spiked with 60–110 μg Al l^?1 was applied to the P4 gel, two lower m.w. fractions were detected. The adsorption/desorption of “free” aluminum on the column was studied with 0.9% NaCl solution, Earle's medium and filtrate. Normal column fractionation and frontal analysis (adsorption and desorption breakthrough curves) were used. Redistribution of aluminum seemed not to occur within the serum when in contact with the column, but contamination from extraneous aluminum could greatly alter the aluminum distribution. Different sources of errors were identified.8     

Photometric determination of nitrite

A sensitive colored reaction for nitrite determination is developed. It involves the reaction of the titled ion with p-aminobenzoic acid to form a diazonium ion, which is then coupled with α-naphthol in alkaline medium to form a pinkish red soluble azo dye absorbing maximum at 519 nm. The described method is capable of determining 0.1–1.3 ppm of nitrite with a relative standard deviation of 0.3–1.7% depending on the concentration level, molar absorptivity of 3.5 × 10⁴ liter mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, and Sandell sensitivity index of 0.0013 μg cm⁻². Diazotization and coupling are very fast and control of temperature is unnecessary. Moreover, the colored azo dye is stable and its intensity is in direct proportion with nitrite concentration over a wide range.     

Catalytic microdetermination of iron

A reaction rate method is described for the microdetermination of iron. The method is based on the catalytic action of iron on the reaction of 2,4-diaminophenol with hydrogen peroxide. The effect of reagent concentration is studied and the maximum tolerable amounts of interfering ions are determined. Procedures for the determination of 2.8 × 10⁻³ to 2.8 × 10⁻² μg/ml are given.Quantities of 2.8 × 10⁻³ to 2.8 × 10⁻² μg/ml could be determinated with a relative error of about 2%.     

Flow-Injection Spectrophotometric Determination of Hydrazine

A flow-injection spectrophotometric method for the determination of hydrazine is described. The method is based on the inhibitory effect of hydrazine on the reaction of thionine with nitrite in acidic media. The decolorization of thionine by the reaction with nitrite was used to monitor the reaction spectrophotometrically at 602 nm. The variables that affected the reaction rate were fully investigated and the optimum conditions were established. Hydrazine can be determined in the range 2.0–40.0 μg/ml with a limit of detection of 1.0 μg/ml. The relative standard deviation for 10 replicate determinations of 7.0 μg/ml hydrazine is 3.3%. The method is simple, rapid, and widely applicable.