Clinical and Allergological Biomonitoring of Occupational Hypersensitivity to Platinum Group Elements

Abstract

Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh) and iridium (Ir), the platinum group elements (PGEs), have been reported to induce hypersensitive reactions. The purpose of this research was to assess: (i) the PGEs level in indoor air and in biological samples (blood, urine and hair) of workers involved in the assembly of catalysers and recycling metals; (ii) the prevalence and the clinical characteristics of hypersensitivity to PGEs; (iii) the association between the environmental exposure and the levels of the xenobiotics in biological samples and the presence of PGE allergies. Airborne particles were collected by means of fixed area samplers equipped with a PM10 sampling head and by means of personal devices worn by the workers. Analyses of all the samples were performed by a sector field and a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest mean level in PM10 airborne and soluble Pt percentage was found in coating department, while the highest concentrations of total Pd were found in the recycling and in the catalyst chemical departments, also confirmed by the biological data. Positive prick test reactions to PGEs were found in 17 out of the 103 workers who performed skin prick or patch tests. All of the 17 were positive to H₂PtCl₆, three out 17 also had a positive reaction to IrCl₃ and RhCl₃ and 1 also had a positive reaction to PdCl₂. No differences were observed between subjects with positive or negative skin test to PGEs on mean concentration of the metals in blood, urine and hair. The results show that Pt‐salts are important allergens in the catalyst industry and that the clinical manifestations involve the respiratory system, ocular symptoms and the skin. The concentration of PGEs in biological samples are not correlated with hypersensitivity, but the sensitivity is present only in subjects involved in production processes.     

A re-examination of platinum-group element concentrations in the environmental certified reference material BCR-723

A detailed statistical examination of replicated data used to certify platinum-group elements (PGEs) in environmental reference material BCR-723 is presented. Certification of Pt, Pd, and Rh concentrations in BCR-723 was based on 16, eight, and nine accepted data sets, respectively. Each accepted data set contained six replicated measurements for each PGE, and the statistical properties of these concentration data were examined, i.e. 96 for Pt, 48 for Pd, and 54 for Rh. This level of investigation has received limited attention but is critical in furthering our understanding of PGE variability and representativeness. Concentrations of Pt, Pd, and Rh were shown to differ significantly between accepted data sets. Palladium and Pt differed in their quantification between detection techniques. Additionally, Pd and Pt concentrations varied significantly between laboratories using a similar definitive method (inductively coupled plasma-isotope dilution mass spectrometry). The distribution of Pd concentrations was found to be bimodal, with a secondary population exhibiting a contamination signal of about 15%. The secondary population, not previously reported in BCR-723, is likely a measurement artifact and not due to a nugget effect. Comparisons of BCR-723 with other environmental media from Europe, i.e. airborne particulate matter, tunnel dust, and road-deposited sediment, indicated that Pd is uncommonly low in BCR-723 (6.0?ng?g^?1) and is generally not representative in terms of its distribution relative to Pt and Rh. Serious consideration should be given to developing a new PGE certified environmental reference material.     

Direct determination of platinum group elements and their distributions in geological and environmental samples at the ng g<Superscript>−1</Superscript> level using LA–ICP–IDMS

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–IDMS) was applied to the direct and simultaneous determination of the platinum group elements (PGEs) Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir in geological and environmental samples. A special laser ablation system with high ablation rates was used, along with sector field ICP–MS. Special attention was paid to deriving the distributions of PGEs in the pulverized samples. IDMS could not be applied to the (mono-isotopic) Rh, but the similar ablation behavior of Ru and Rh allowed Rh to be simultaneously determined via relative sensitivity coefficients. The laser ablation process produces hardly any oxide ions (which usually cause interference in PGE analysis with liquid sample injection), so the ICP–MS can be run in its low mass resolution but high-sensitivity mode. The detection limits obtained for the geological samples were 0.16 ng g⁻¹, 0.14 ng g⁻¹, 0.08 ng g⁻¹, 0.01 ng g⁻¹ and 0.06 ng g⁻¹ for Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt, respectively. LA–ICP–IDMS was applied to different geological reference materials (TDB-1, WGB-1, UMT-1, WMG-1, SARM-7) and the road dust reference material BCR-723, which are only certified for some of the PGEs. Comparisons with certified values as well as with indicative values from the literature demonstrated the validity of the LA–ICP–IDMS method. The PGE concentrations in subsamples of the road dust reference material correspond to a normal distribution, whereas the distributions in the geological reference materials TDB-1, WGB-1, UMT-1, WMG-1, and SARM-7 are more complex. For example, in the case of Ru, a logarithmic normal distribution best fits the analyzed concentrations in TDB-1 subsamples, whereas a pronounced nugget effect was found for Pt in most geological samples.     

Monitoring of the exposure to platinum-group elements for two Italian population groups through urine analysis

It is well recognized that automobile catalytic converters are the main source of Pd, Pt and Rh (also called platinum-group elements (PGEs)) in an urban atmosphere. Over recent years, urinary biomonitoring of PGEs has gained considerable importance in assessing the individual human exposure to these elements. This paper reports the concentration ranges of PGEs in the urine of 257 Italian subjects, aged between 23 and 88 years. Subjects were selected on the basis of standardized criteria in two different Italian cities, so as to represent a small urban area surrounded by an essentially rural environment and characterized by low automobile-traffic density (Foligno) and a large urban area with almost constant high-traffic conditions (Rome). The determination of PGEs was performed by sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) after 1:4 (v/v) dilution of the samples. The 5th and 95th percentiles for PGEs in urine of subjects living in Foligno were the following (in ng l⁻¹): Pd 1.99-17.2, Pt 0.24-3.08 and Rh 0.53-14.8. The 5th and 95th percentiles in the urine of subjects from the area of Rome were (in ng l⁻¹): Pd 0.71-17.0, Pt 0.49-8.13 and Rh 4.10-38.6. Platinum and Rh median concentration values showed large and significant differences (P<0.0001) between the two urban settings considered (0.52 and 3.50 ng l⁻¹ for Pt and Rh in Foligno, respectively, and 1.70 and 12.85 ng l⁻¹ for Pt and Rh in Rome, respectively). On the other hand, no striking differences were found in the Pd concentration (median value of 6.02 ng l⁻¹ in Foligno versus 7.79 ng l⁻¹ in Rome). The sex variable correlates only with Pd concentration (P=0.05), pointing out that in males concentrations are higher than in females.     

The use of cation exchange matrix separation coupled with ICP-MS to directly determine platinum group element (PGE) and other trace element emissions from passenger cars equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF)

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry coupled with cation exchange matrix separation has been optimised for the direct determination of platinum group element (PGE) and trace element emissions from a diesel engine car. After matrix separation method detection limits of 1.6 ng g(-1) for Pd, 0.4 ng g(-1) for Rh and 4.3 ng g(-1) for Pt were achieved, the method was validated against the certified reference material BCR 723, urban road dust. The test vehicle was fitted with new and aged catalytic converters with and without diesel particulate filters (DPF). Samples were collected after three consecutive New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) of the particulate and "soluble" phases using a home-made sampler optimised for trace element analysis. Emission factors for the PGEs ranged from 0.021 ng km(-1) for Rh to 70.5 ng km(-1) for Pt; when a DPF was fitted, the emission factors for the PGEs actually used in the catalysts dropped by up to 97% (for Pt). Trace element emission factors were found to drop by a maximum of 92% for Ni to a minimum of 18% for Y when a DPF was fitted; a new DPF was also found to cause a reduction of up to 86% in the emission of particulate matter.     

Determination of Rh, Pd and Pt in urine samples using a pre-concentration sequential injection analysis system coupled to a quadrupole-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer

The proposed flow system was developed in order to minimize the drawbacks related to the PGEs determination by quadrupole-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). It was intended not only to lower the limits of detection (LODs) but also to eliminate the interferences originating from some atomic and molecular ions produced in the argon plasma. This was accomplished by means of an on-line sample clean-up/pre-concentration step, using a chelating resin (Metalfix™ Chelamine™) in which Rh, Pd and Pt were preferably retained when compared with the interfering species.

The results obtained by using the developed flow system in the analysis of urine samples are presented. With a sampling rate of 9 samples h⁻¹ (i.e., 27 determinations) and a sample consumption of ca. 10 mL, the developed flow system allowed linear calibration plots up to 100 ng L⁻¹ with detection limits of 1.2 ng L⁻¹ (Rh), 0.4 ng L⁻¹ (Pd) and 0.9 ng L⁻¹ (Pt). Repeatability studies showed good precision (R.S.D.%, n = 5): 3.7% (Rh); 2.6% (Pd) and 2.4% (Pt), for 10 ng L⁻¹; 2.4% (Rh); 1.4% (Pd) and 1.9% (Pt), for 50 ng L⁻¹; and 1.3% (Rh); 0.58% (Pd) and 0.62% (Pt), for 100 ng L⁻¹. By spiking human urine samples, recovery tests were performed, and the values obtained ranged between 89% and 105% (Rh); 90% and 104% (Pd); and 93% and 105% (Pt).     

Assessment of environmental contamination risk by Pt, Rh and Pd from automobile catalyst

The main active components of present-day car catalysts are the noble metals Pt, Pd and Rh, belonging to the platinum group elements (PGEs). It is recognized that these elements are being spread into the environment to an as-yet incompletely known extent, mainly due to surface abrasion of the catalyst during car operation. These new pollutants have motivated extensive research on PGE determination. Our work is planned to ascertain the health and ecosystem risks of these PGEs emitted through a series of interrelated objectives that address the pathway of these elements from the catalyst to the different environmental compartments. Combined studies of catalyst surface abrasion and exhaust fumes analysis, the monitoring of Pt, Pd and Rh in airborne particles and road dust sediments and bioaccumulation studies in aquatic organisms, plants and urine enable a realistic assessment of the risk that this release represents for man and environment. In this work some previous results are presented.     

Microwave-assisted solid phase extraction prior to ICP-MS determination of Pd and Pt in environmental and biological samples

A sensitive and selective microwave-assisted solid phase extraction procedure coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is proposed for palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) quantification in environmental and biological samples. Pd and Pt were quantitatively retained on commercial thioureido propyl functionalised silica gel packed inside a home-made glass microcolumn, and later eluted with 0.5% thiourea solution under microwave irradiation, followed by ICP-MS determination. The main variables affecting the procedural stages (i.e., sorption and desorption) and ICP-MS determination were optimised. The best conditions found were: (a) sorption: sample acidity, 1?M HCl; sample flow rate, 3?mL?min^?1; (b) desorption: microwave radiation, power 800?W; eluent concentration, 0.5% thiourea; eluent flow rate, 0.5?mL?min^?1; (c) ICP-MS determination: nebuliser feeding, free aspiration (0.3?mL?min^?1); internal standard, Rh (5?µg?L^?1). Analyte recoveries were higher than 90% and concentration factors up to 90 and 92 were achieved for Pd and Pt, respectively. Depending on the conditions, the methodological limits of detection were down to 0.2?ng?L^?1 for both analytes and repeatability, expressed as RSD%, varied between 1.3 and 11.0%. A method selectivity evaluation showed that most of the ICP-MS interferents were either quantitatively separated or more than 86% eliminated, except for Cu (elimination efficiency around 30%). Finally, the method was successfully used to determine Pd in certified reference materials (i.e. human urine and serum) and Pd and Pt in PM₁₀ airborne particulate matter fractions.     

Determination of Ultra-Trace Platinum,Palladium, Ruthenium,Rhodium, and Iridium in Rocks and Minerals by Inductively Coupled–Plasma Mass Spectrometry Following Nickel Sulfide Fire Assay Preconcentration and Open Mixed Acid Digestion

Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), and osmiun (Os) are platinum-group elements with similar physic-chemical properties, and have important applications in geochemistry and environmental chemistry. However, due to their low abundance and inhomogeneous distribution in natural ores as well as the nugget effect, the accurate determination of the platinum-group elements has been a challenge for geological analysis. In this work, self-prepared and purified sodium carbonate (NiCO₃) instead of commercial nickel oxide (NiO) was used as the fire assay collector in order to greatly reduce the reagent blank and method detection limits. In addition, the fuming time of HClO₄ was strictly controlled at 10?min and a high sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ultra-trace Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, and Ir in minerals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following preconcentration with the nickel sulfide fire assay. Under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges of Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, and Ir were between 0 and 100?ng mL^?1, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9997. The detection limits were 0.015, 0.056, 0.014, 0.004, 0.012?ng mL^?1 (for 10?g sample) for Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Ir, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to analyze Chinese Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) GBW07288, GBW07289, GBW07290, GBW07291, GBW07292, GBW07293, GBW07294, GBW07101, GBW07102 and GBW07201 and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values. The relative standard deviations (n?=?5) of Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Ir were between 3.42% and 6.87% for the determination of GBW07291.     

Analysis of palladium concentrations in airborne particulate matter with reductive co-precipitation, He collision gas, and ID-ICP-Q-MS

The concentration of platinum group elements (PGE) in the environment has increased significantly in the last 20 years mainly due to their use as catalysts in automotive catalytic converters. The quantitation of these metals in different environmental compartments is, however, challenging due to their very low concentrations and the presence of interfering matrix constituents when inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used for analysis. Previously, the research focus was on the analysis of platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh). However, due to the increasing use of palladium (Pd) in automotive catalytic converters, quantitation of this element in airborne particulate matter (PM) is also needed. Compared to Pt and Rh, measurements of Pd using ICP-MS are plagued by greater molecular interferences arising from elements such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) strontium (Sr), yttrium (Y), and zirconium (Zr). The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of reductive co-precipitation procedures using both mercury (Hg) and tellurium (Te) for the pre-concentration of Pd from airborne PM. Furthermore, helium (He) was tested as a collision gas for isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole-mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-Q-MS) to measure Pd in the Hg and Te precipitates. Airborne PM samples (PM₁₀) were collected from Neuglobsow (Brandenburg, north-eastern Germany) and Deuselbach (Rhineland-Palatinate, south-western Germany), considered to represent background levels, and from the city Frankfurt am Main (Hesse, Germany), a high-traffic area. Samples were first digested with aqua regia in a high-pressure asher (HPA) at 320 °C and 130 bar prior to the application of reductive co-precipitation procedures. The method was validated with road dust reference material BCR-723 and the CANMET-CCRMP reference material TDB-1 and WPR-1. In airborne PM collected at the background areas Neuglobsow and Deuselbach, Pd was detected with median concentrations values of 0.5 and 0.6 pg/m³, respectively. Much higher median concentration values of 14.8 pg Pd/m³ (detection limit = 0.01 pg Pd/m³) were detected in samples collected in the city of Frankfurt am Main. Results have shown that Hg co-precipitation depletes the concentrations of interfering matrix constituents by at least one order of magnitude more, compared to Te co-precipitation, making it a more effective method for the isolation and pre-enrichment of Pd from airborne PM prior to analysis. The use of a He gas flow of 120 ml/min in the plasma further minimized interferences, particularly those arising from CuAr⁺, YO⁺, and ZrO⁺ during the determination of Pd. The results demonstrate that Hg co-precipitation and the use of He collision gas, in combination with isotope dilution, are highly effective methods for the quantitation of Pd in airborne PM using ICP-MS.      

Ion flotation studies of the chlorocomplexes of some platinum group metals

The anionic chlorocomplexes of Au(III), Pt(IV), Pd(II), Ir(IV), Ir(III) and Rh(III) can be floated from aqueous solutions with cationic surfactants of the type RNR'₃Br. The flotation behavior of each metal is reported with respect to variations of hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride concentrations, the R and R' chain lengths, initial surfactant concentrations and initial metal ion concentrations. The flotation behavior of the metals is compared to the anion-exchange selectivity coefficients and a flotation selectivity sequence of Au(III) > Pt(IV), Ir(IV), Pd(II) > Ir(III) > Rh(III) is generally observed. Nearly 100% of Au(III), Pt(IV), Ir(IV) and Pd(II) can be recovered from dilute solutions using the ion flotation procedures.     

Zur Chromatographie von Metallchelaten

Zusammenfassung Die Platinmetalle bilden in wäßriger Lösung mit 1-Hydroxy-2-pyridinthion (HPT) sehr stabile Neutralchelate, die sich in CHCl₃ extraktiv anreichern und chromatographisch bestimmen lassen. Als stationäre Phase dient Kieselgel 60, als mobile Phase werden CHCl₃/THF- und CH₂Cl₂/THF-Mischungen verwendet. Auf diese Weise lassen sich die Platinmetalle Rh, Pd, Ir und Pt simultan bestimmen und empfindlich detektieren. Die Standardabweichung des Verfahrens beträgt für Lösungen mit Metallgehalten von 10 ppm zwischen 3% (Rh) und 16% (Pd). Die Nachweisgrenze der Metalle liegt zwischen 0,1 und 1 ng absolut (UV-Remissionsmessung auf HPTLC-Platten).

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On the chromatography of metal chelatesXV. Thin-layer chromatography of Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt with 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinethione

Summary In aqueous solutions the platinum group metals form very stable neutral chelates with 1-hydroxy-2- pyridinethione, which can be enriched extractively with CHCl₃ and separated by Chromatography. As stationary phase silicagel 60, as mobile phase mixtures of CHCl₃ or CH₂Cl₂ and THF are used. Thus the platinum group metals Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt can be determined simultaneously and with high sensitivity. The standard deviation of the procedure is 3% (Rh) to 16% (Pd) for solutions with a metal concentration of 10 ppm; the detection limit of the metals is 0.1 to 1 ng absolutely (UV-remission on HPTLC-plates).

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Teil XIV: Fresenius Z Anal Chem (1984) 319:66–69     

Displacement solid-phase extraction on mercapto-functionalized magnetite microspheres for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric determination of trace noble metals

A flow injection online displacement solid-phase extraction (DSPE) via magnetic immobilization of mercapto-functionalized magnetite microspheres onto the inner walls of a knotted reactor (KR) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed for selective preconcentration and determination of trace noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir and Au) in complex matrices. Online DSPE of 2.7 mL aqueous solution gave the enhancement factors of 32-46 for the six noble metals in comparison with direct nebulization of aqueous sample solution, and the detection limits (3 s) of 2.1 ng L(-1) for Ru, 1.9 ng L(-1) for Rh, 2.5 ng L(-1) for Pd, 1.8 ng L(-1) for Ir, 1.9 ng L(-1) for Pt and 1.7 ng L(-1) for Au. The sample throughput of the developed method was about 20 samples h(-1), and the relative standard deviation for eleven replicate determinations of the noble metals at the 30 ng L(-1) level ranged from 1.2% to 2.1%. The recoveries of Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir and Au still maintained 90% even after successive 140 cycles of DSPE. The developed method was successfully applied to selective determination of trace Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir and Au in complex matrices.     

Specificity of noble metals dynamic sorption preconcentration on reversed-phase sorbents

The reversible sorption preconcentration of noble metals (NMs) using different schemes “sorbent–reagent–eluent” was investigated. The extraction of Au, Pd, Pt, Ir, Rh and Ru chlorocomplexes from hydrochloric acid solutions on hyper-crosslinked polysterene MN-200 in the form of ion associates with tributylamine (TBA) and 4-(n-octyl)diethylenetriamine (ODETA) was investigated. It was found that Pd, Pt and Au were quantitatively and reversibly extracted using TBA on hyper-crosslinked polysterene; the appropriate eluent for desorption was 1 M solution of HCl in ethanol. Ir, Rh and Ru under these conditions were not sorbed quantitatively. It was found that sorbent hydrophobicity is not the main characteristic that defines the efficiency of sorption of a particular NM ion associate. Different efficiencies of hyper-crosslinked polysterene MN-200 for sorption of square-planar chlorcomplexes of Pt, Pd and Au and octahedral complexes of Ir, Rh and Ru were found. For the first time, the sorbents with their own N-atoms – StrataX and StrataX-AW – were used for the sorption of Ir, Rh and Ru. Using these sorbents, the sorption of Ir was increased up to 95%, and the sorption of Ru and Rh was increased to about 40%. We can explain these results by nonspecific interaction of chlorcomplexes of Ir, Rh and Ru with ethylenediamine groups of the sorbent. Weak bases with large anions may be applied for desorption of Ir, Rh and Ru. Two schemes of dynamic sorption preconcentration of NMs from hydrochloric acid solutions were proposed – hyper-crosslinked polysterene MN-200 for the determination of Au, Pd, Pt, and StrataX-AW for Ir, Rh and Ru.     

Ion chromatography of chloro complexes of the platinum group metals and gold using bonded phase silica substrates

The ion chromatography of chloro complexes of Au(III), Ir(IV), Ir(III), Os(IV), Pd(II), Pt(IV), Rh(III) and Ru(III) was investigated using anion-exchange and ion-interaction techniques involving silica-based phases. Chloride was either absent or at a very low level and the pH was high enough to enable steel-fabricated liquid chromatography equipment to be used. With anion exchange, Ir(IV), Ir(III), Os(IV) and Pt(IV) gave good stable chromatography and all produced linear calibration plots, except Ir(IV) owing to instability of the sample solution. The detection limits were Ir(III) 5, Os(IV) 10 and Pt(IV) 2 ng ml^?1. The ion-interaction technique was not so successful, only Au(III) and Pd(II) giving stable chromatography. The calibration plots were slightly curved, although acceptable, and the detection limits were 10 and 30 ng ml^?1 for Au (III) and Pd(II), respectively.     

Determination of Platinum-Group Elements (PGE) from catalytic converters in soil by means of docimasy and INAA

The nickelsulfide fire assay (docimasy) for the enrichment of platinum-group elements (PGEs) has been modified for the use with small samples and combined with instrumental neutron-activation analysis (INAA). This procedure has been applied to the determination of PGEs exhausted from catalytic converters and deposited in soil near the Wiesbadener Kreuz (highway A3, Frankfurt-Köln). Our results show a considerable enhancement of the Pt (up to 330 ng/g), Pd (6.6 ng/g) and Rh (7.5 ng/g) contents close to the highway.     

Determination of boron in blood,urine and bone by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using zirconium and citric acid as modifiers

A comparative study of various potential chemical modifiers (Au, Ba, Be, Ca, Cr, Ir, La, Lu, Mg, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Sr, V, W, and Zr), and different ‘coating’ treatments (Zr, W, and W+Rh) of the pyrolytic graphite platform of a longitudinally heated graphite tube atomizer for thermal stabilization and determination of boron was undertaken. The use of Au, Ba, Be, Cr, Ir, Pt, Rh, Ru, Sr and V as modifiers, and of W+Rh coating produced erratic, and noisy signals, while the addition of La, Ni and Pd as modifiers, and the W coating had positive effects, but with too high background absorption signals, rendering their use unsuitable for boron determination even in aqueous solutions. The atomic absorption signal for boron was increased and stabilized when the platform was coated with Zr, and by the addition of Ca, Mg, Lu, W or Zr as modifiers. Only the addition of 10 μg of Zr as a modifier onto Zr-treated platforms allowed the use of a higher pyrolysis temperature without analyte losses. The memory effect was minimized by incorporating a cleaning step with 10 μl of 50 g l⁻¹ NH₄F HF after every three boron measurements. The addition of 10 μl of 15 g l⁻¹ citric acid together with Zr onto Zr-treated platforms significantly improved the characteristic mass to m₀=282 pg, which is adequate for biological samples such as urine and bone, although the sensitivity was still inadequate for the determination of boron in blood of subjects without supplementary diet. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit (3σ) was 60 μg l⁻¹. The amount of boron found in whole blood, urine and femur head samples from patients with osteoporosis was in agreement with values previously reported in the literature.     

Determination of physiological noble metals in human urine using liquid-liquid extraction and Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An extremely sensitive, reliable and simple procedure is described for the determination of physiological palladium, platinum and gold in human urine. The urine samples were adjusted to pH 4 (Pd, Au) or pH 5 (Pt), followed by conversion of the analytes to their pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complexes. These complexes were separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction into 4-methyl-2-pentanone resulting in a 25-fold enrichment. Determination was by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) using longitudinal inverse alternating current Zeeman-effect background correction. The limits of detection calculated from three standard deviations of the blank values were 20 ng l⁻¹ for Pd and Au and 70 ng l⁻¹ Pt. Within-day precision (n = 10, 5 μg l⁻¹) ranged 5.2%–7.7%. The procedure is successfully applied to determine urinary palladium, platinum and gold in nine unexposed persons. Palladium levels in urine ranged < 20–80 ng l⁻¹ (arithmetical MEAN=38.7 ng l⁻¹), while gold levels ranged < 20–130 ng l⁻¹ (36.0 ng l⁻¹). Physiological platinum levels in urine were all < 70 ng l⁻¹. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by analyzing a series of urine samples by a second independent method (magnetic sector field inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) in combination with UV photolysis.     

Determination of Platinum-Group Elements (PGE) from catalytic converters in soil by means of docimasy and INAA

The nickelsulfide fire assay (docimasy) for the enrichment of platinum-group elements (PGEs) has been modified for the use with small samples and combined with instrumental neutron-activation analysis (INAA). This procedure has been applied to the determination of PGEs exhausted from catalytic converters and deposited in soil near the Wiesbadener Kreuz (highway A3, Frankfurt-Köln). Our results show a considerable enhancement of the Pt (up to 330 ng/g), Pd (6.6 ng/g) and Rh (7.5 ng/g) contents close to the highway.     

Separation of some platinum group metal chelates with 8-hydroxyquinoline by various high-performance liquid chromatographic methods

Different HPLC methodologies are employed to evaluate the separation and determination of some platinum metals (Pt, Pd, Ir and Rh) after the formation of 8-hydroxyquinolate chelates. With the aim of reducing the number of steps in treating the samples, the method developed did not include the elimination of excess chelating reagent before the analysis of metal chelates. Reversed-phase (RP), non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) and normal-phase (NP) HPLC are compared. The RP-HPLC method only permits the quantitative separation of Rh and Pd from the excess reagent. A silica column can be used to separate Ir and Rh by NP-HPLC. The NARP-HPLC method allows for the effective separation of the four elements tested, but the high detection limit (90 ng) for platinum and the peak width do not favour its application for quantitative measurement. Platinum group metals can be quantitatively separated and determined by NP-HPLC using a cyano column in less than 15 min. The broad linear range of all the elements (between 1 and 500 ng) is superior to that which has been previously reported and the detection limits (1.0 ng for Pt, 0.3 ng for Pd, 1.0 ng for Ir and 0.3 ng for Rh) are slightly lower.