Automated quantitative and isotopic (13C) analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved organic carbon in continuous-flow using a total organic carbon analyser

A method for the automated (13)C analysis of dissolved inorganic and organic carbon species has been developed to operate on a continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS). For natural and anthropogenic carbon species, the (13)C stable isotope has proven to be an excellent environmental tracer. Analytical performance tests were carried out on various organic compounds from easily oxidisable (sugar) to difficult (humic acid). A set of natural samples was also analysed to confirm the flexibility of the system. Analytical precision (2sigma) is typically <0.20 per thousand with sample reproducibility from 0.10-0.35 per thousand depending on reactivity of material. We believe this to be the first successful use of a total organic carbon (TOC) analyser for both dissolved inorganic and, specifically, dissolved organic species for (13)C stable isotope analysis in an automated CF-IRMS system. Routine analysis is achieved fairly quickly, is relatively simple with little or no sample manipulation, and will allow new and exciting studies for stable isotope research in both natural abundance and organic tracer studies not easily achieved before.     

The possibilities of voltammetry in the study reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in natural waters

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - This paper describes the application of a methodology, which primarily involves low-cost voltammetry, to rapidly track the reactivity (i.e. surfactant...     

Determination of dissolved selenium(VI) in freshwater

A procedure is proposed for the determination of selenate in freshwaters with a high content of dissolved organic material. After passage through an XAD-8 column, selenate is collected on a strong anion exchanger and subsequently eluted with hydrochloric acid. Following conversion into the tetravalent state, selenium is determined using atomic absorption spectrometry after hydride generation and preconcentration in a cold trap system. The two-column procedure effectively separates selenium(VI) from possible organic interferents and allows quantification at the low ng/l. level. Results from the investigation of waters from lakes and streams indicate that selenium(IV) and (VI) may constitute a very small part of total dissolved selenium.     

The determination of dissolved organic carbon in sea water

For most oceanographic applications, methods based on wet oxidation of the organic fraction, followed by stripping of the resulting CO₂ and measurement in the gas phase by non-dispersing infrared detectors give acceptable results. Oxidation by high-intensity ultraviolet light has advantages, particularly in ease of automation, over persulfate oxidation.     

Biomass-modified carbon paste electrodes for monitoring dissolved metal ions

Electrodes were prepared by incorporating dried, nonliving biomass of a common lichen, Ramalina stenospora, and Sphagnum (peat) moss in carbon paste. The electrodes were tested on solutions containing Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions by immersing the electrode in the solution for selected periods of time to accumulate ions. Following this the electrode was connected to a potentiostat and the applied voltage scanned from −1.0 to +0.5 V vs. SCE. Any adsorbed metal ions were stripped back into solution at the appropriate oxidizing voltage. The ratio of biomass to mineral oil to graphite has been found to be crucial to electrode performance. Different ratios of the three components using the lichen Ramalina stenospora were evaluated for maximum electrode performance. Only two electrode compositions gave a good electrode response for lead. Electrodes containing peat moss were superior in performance to lichen-containing electrodes for lead. Electrodes based on the lichens Cladina evansii and Letharia vulpina, the marine algae Ulva lactuca and Sargassum fluitans, the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, and the aquatic plant Eichhornia crassipes did not respond to lead at all. All functioning electrodes studies showed a poor response toward copper(II) ions.     

Conversion efficiency of the high-temperature combustion technique for dissolved organic carbon and total dissolved nitrogen analysis

The measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) in seawater are key in global change and coastal eutrophication studies. Nowadays, the high-temperature combustion (HTC) technique is a widely used method for DOC and TDN analysis. However, uncertainties exist about the operation of the catalyst in the conversion process of DOC and TDN in the HTC method. In this study, five different ‘catalyst’ materials were tested for their blanks, calibration slopes, and conversion efficiency of DOC and TDN using the Shimadzu TOC 5000A total organic carbon analyser coupled to a Sievers NCD 255 nitrogen chemiluminescence detector. The materials included four metallic catalysts (Shimadzu and Johnson 0.5% Pt–alumina, 13% Cu(II)O–alumina, 0.5% Pd–alumina) and quartz beads. The results indicated that DOC blank signals for the HTC approach using metallic catalysts with an alumina support are higher compared with quartz beads, as a result of the amphoteric nature of the alumina. However, the slopes of the standard calibration graphs were lowest for DOC and TDN determinations on the quartz beads. The DOC recoveries for the metallic catalysts were close to 100% for all compounds tested, with the exception of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. Using quartz beads, poor recoveries were obtained for a range of organic compounds, including the commonly used calibration compounds potassium hydrogen phthalate and glycine. The TDN recoveries for all compounds were typically >90%, with the exception of NaNO₂. Furthermore, analysis using the CuO–alumina and Pd–alumina catalysts and quartz beads showed low recoveries for NH₄Cl. This study showed that catalyst performance should be verified on a regular basis using model compounds and blank checks made during every run, and that the Shimadzu 0.5% Pt–alumina material was an efficient catalyst for DOC and TDN analyses using the coupled total organic carbon–nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (TOC-NCD) analyser.     

A solid phase microextraction method to fingerprint dissolved organic carbon released from Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh.) (River Red Gum) leaves

A solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography (SPME-GC) method was developed to trace natural sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in river systems. The effects of extraction time, temperature, salt concentration, rate of stirring, and silanisation of sampling container were examined. The optimum extraction conditions using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SPME fibre were found to be extraction for 15 min at 40 °C, pH 2, from a saturated NaCl matrix with rapid stirring in a non-silanised vial. The method gave good results for a series of six compounds representative of those likely to be present in dissolved organic carbon leached from River Red Gum leaves—cineole, terpineol, thymol, myristic acid, methyl palmitate and methyl stearate. Artificial dissolved organic carbon solutions prepared from River Red Gum leaf leachate were also examined and the effects of filtering and storage on the filtrate were noted. The method was demonstrated to have potential to track the leachate in aquatic environment, indicated by the large number of compounds extracted from leachate solutions, and the broad linear working ranges of extracted compounds.     

Spectrophotometric determination of carbon tetrachloride via ultrasonic oxidation of iodide accelerated by dissolved carbon tetrachloride

Ultrasonic oxidation of iodide was investigated in the presence of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). The ultrasonic oxidation of potassium iodide led to formation of iodine and then I₃⁻ in the presence of excess iodide, and the generated I₃⁻ shows strong UV absorption with a molar absorptivity of 2.31 × 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at the maximum absorption wavelength of 351 nm. The ultrasonic oxidation of iodide was found to be significantly promoted by a small addition of CCl₄, and it was further found that the generation rate was increased with the amount of CCl₄ added. This can be used to analyze the level of CCl₄ dissolved in aqueous solutions. Under optimum conditions, the concentration of generated iodine (or its absorption at 351 nm) was found to correlated linearly with the concentration of CCl₄ in the range of 0.2-50 mg L⁻¹ (detection limit = 0.09 mg L⁻¹, R² = 0.999). As an alternative indirect spectrophotometric method of CCl₄ determination, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine the concentrations of CCl₄ in several practical samples, showing merits of being sensitive and simple of operation.     

不同分子尺寸溶解性有机物的光解行为研究

研究了三个分子量区间(0.45μm~100kDa,100~5kDa和5kDa)的溶解性有机物(DOM)在不同光源辐照下的光解行为。溶解有机碳(DOC)和UV254的测试结果表明,光解可以有效地减少所有分子量区间的DOM总量,而且UVC光源的存在可以进一步促进DOM的降解。三维荧光光谱测定结合平行因子分析,识别出3个腐殖质类荧光组分(C1:UVA+UVC,C2:UVA+UVB,C3:UVC)。在光解过程中,较大分子腐殖质类(5kDa)的荧光强度相对较稳定,甚至增强;而小分子腐殖质类(5kDa)的荧光组分C1和C2具有显著的光解行为,UVC的存在可以促进两种荧光组分的光解。所有分子量区间的C3组分都发生了光生成现象。     

Spectrophotometric determination of dissolved oxygen with tris(4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II)

Tris(4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) reacts rapidly and quantitatively with dissolved oxygen in alkaline aqueous solution. In ammoniacal solution, the reaction is accompanied by the disappearance of the intense red colour of the iron(II) compound, which gives way to the pale gray, slightly-dissociated ion tris(4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthrolinefiron)(III). By measurement of the absorbance of a solution containing the ferrous compound before and after the injection of an oxygen-containing solution, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the sample can be accurately determined in the range 1-20 ppm.     

Hemin-adsorbed carbon felt for sensitive and rapid flow-amperometric detection of dissolved oxygen

Hemin was physically adsorbed onto porous carbon felt (CF), a microelectrode ensemble of micro-carbon fiber (ca. 7 μm in diameter) and possessing a three-dimensional random structure. The hemin-CF exhibited a well-defined redox wave that is due to Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox process in hemin, with a formal potential of ?0.32 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in deoxygenated buffer solution of pH 7.0. The surface coverage of the electroactive hemin molecules on the surface of the CF was calculated to be 5.0?×?10^?11 mol cm^?2, and the apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant is 3.35 s^?1. The hemin-CF electrode displays excellent electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of dissolved oxygen (DO), and the magnitude of the cathodic current increases with increasing concentrations of DO in the sample solution. The electrode was used as a flow-through detector for sensitive and rapid consecutive determination of DO. Deoxygenated pH 7.0 solutions were analyzed at a flow rate of 8.0 mL min^?1 at an applied potential of ?0.2 V, and highly reproducible cathodic peak current responses to DO were observed in the 0.72 to 13.3 mg L^?1 concentration range. The maximum throughput is 170 samples h^?1. The hemin-CF-based amperometric flow-sensor was applied to determine the concentration of DO in environmental water samples.

Ratiometric fluorescence-based dissolved carbon dioxide sensor for use in environmental monitoring applications

The focus of this work is on the development and characterisation of a fluorescence-based ratiometric sol–gel-derived dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO₂) sensor for use in environmental monitoring applications. Fluorescence-based dCO₂ sensors are attractive as they facilitate the development of portable and low-cost systems that can be easily deployed outside the laboratory environment. The sensor developed for this work exploits a pH fluorescent dye 1-hydroxypyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonic acid, ion-paired with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (HPTS-IP), which has been entrapped in a hybrid sol–gel-based matrix derived from n-propyltriethoxysilane along with the liphophilic organic base. The sensor spot deposited on a cover slip has been interrogated with a robust, ratiometric optical probe that combines effective fluorescence excitation and detection and thus facilitates the production of a highly sensitive sensor system using low-cost optoelectronic components. The probe design involves the use of dual-LED excitation in order to facilitate ratiometric operation and uses a silicon PIN photodiode. HPTS-IP exhibits two pH-dependent changes in excitation bands, which allows for dual excitation ratiometric detection as an indirect measure of the dCO₂. Such measurements are insensitive to changes in dye concentration, leaching and photobleaching of the fluorophore and instrument fluctuations unlike unreferenced fluorescence intensity measurements. The performance of the sensor system is characterised by a high degree of repeatability, reversibility and stability. Calculated limit of detection for the sensor was 35 ppb. The sensor probe was used to monitor dCO₂ levels in a laboratory-based aquatic habitat, and the expected diurnal pattern was clearly visible. The influence of temperature, biofouling and photobleaching on sensor performance has been also investigated.     

Determination of total dissolved inorganic carbon in freshwaters by reagent-free ion chromatography

Studies of inorganic carbon cycle in natural waters provide important information on the biological productivity and buffer capacity. Determination of total inorganic carbon, alkalinity and dissolved carbon dioxide gives an indication of the balance between photosynthesis and respiration by biota, both within the water column and sediments, and carbon dioxide transfers from the water column to the atmosphere. There are few methods to measure and distinguish the different forms of inorganic carbon, but all require a measure or an indirect quantification of total inorganic carbon. A direct measurement of TIC in water is made possible by the introduction of electrolytic generated hydroxide eluent in ion chromatography which allows to detect a chromatographic peak for carbonate. The advantage of this method is that all the inorganic forms of carbon are converted in carbonate at eluent pH and can be detected as a single peak by conductivity detection. Repeatability of carbonate peak was evaluated at different levels from 0.02 to 6 mequiv.l(-1) both in high purity water and in real samples and ranged from 1 to 9%. The calibration curve was not linear and has to be fitted by a quadratic curve. Limit of detection was estimated to be 0.02 mequiv.l(-1). Accuracy has been estimated by comparing ion chromatography method with total inorganic carbon calculated from alkalinity and pH. The correlation between the two methods was good (R(2)=0.978, n=141). The IC method has been applied to different typologies of surface waters (alpine and subalpine lakes and rivers) characterised by different chemical characteristics (alkalinity from 0.05 to 2 mequiv.l(-1) and pH from 6.7 to 8.5) and low total organic carbon concentrations. This analytical method allowed to describe the distribution of TIC along the water column of two Italian deep lakes.     

Ion pairing between dissolved poly(o-phenylenediamine) and halogenide ions

An electrically conductive polymer, poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD), is soluble in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) without any pretreatment. Cyclic voltammograms of dissolved PoPD were measured in DMSO solutions containing halogenide ions and two reversible redox peak currents were evident. The redox potential shifted with the concentration of the dissolved halogenide ion. The relationship between the potential shift and the concentration determined the relative association constant of PoPD for four halogenide ions: 104 mol⁻¹ dm⁻³ for F⁻; 32 mol⁻¹ dm⁻³ for Cl⁻; 29 mol⁻¹ dm⁻³ for Br⁻ and 9 mol⁻¹ dm⁻³ for I⁻.     

Measurement of dissolved oxygen based on enhanced cerium(IV) chemiluminescence.

The reaction of Ce(IV) with pyrogallol caused chemiluminescence, which was enhanced by dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen in water was able to help in the determination by enhancing the chemiluminescence intensity. The limit of detection calculated from 3sigma was 43 micromol/dm3, and the relative standard deviation was 1.2% at 613 micromol/dm3 (n = 5). The results obtained for natural and tap water samples were compared with those provided by conventional methods; the agreement between them corroborated the usefulness of the proposed method. The chemiluminescence mechanism was studied by examining the effect of interference with Cl- and measuring the chemiluminescence spectrum. The chemiluminescence emitter, however, could not be identified.