As, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb pressurized liquid extraction with acetic acid from marine sediment and soil samples

Rapid leaching procedures by Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) have been developed for As, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb leaching from environmental matrices (marine sediment and soil samples). The Pressurized Liquid Extraction is completed after 16 min. The released elements by acetic acid Pressurized Liquid Extraction have been evaluated by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The optimum multi-element leaching conditions when using 5.0 ml stainless steel extraction cells, were: acetic acid concentration 8.0 M, extraction temperature 100 °C, pressure 1500 psi, static time 5 min, flush solvent 60%, two extraction steps and 0.50 g of diatomaceous earth as dispersing agent (diatomaceous earth mass/sample mass ratio of 2). Results have showed that high acetic acid concentrations and high extraction temperatures increase the metal leaching efficiency. Limits of detection (between 0.12 and 0.5 μg g^− 1) and repeatability of the over-all procedure (around 6.0%) were assessed. Finally, accuracy was studied by analyzing PACS-2 (marine sediment), GBW-07409 (soil), IRANT-12-1-07 (cambisol soil) and IRANT-12-1-08 (luvisol soil) certified reference materials (CRMs). These certified reference materials offer certified concentrations ranges between 2.9 and 26.2 μg g^− 1 for As, from 0.068 to 2.85 μg g^− 1 for Cd, between 26.4 and 90.7 μg g^− 1 for Cr, from 9.3 to 40.0 μg g^− 1 for Ni and between 16.3 and 183.0 μg g^− 1 for Pb. Recoveries after analysis were between 95.7 and 105.1% for As, 96.2% for Cd, 95.2 and 100.6% for Cr, 95.7 and 103% for Ni and 94.2 and 105.5% for Pb.     

Determination of arsenic, lead, selenium and tin in sediments by slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using Ru as permanent modifier and NaCl as a carrier

A procedure for the determination of As, Pb, Se and Sn in sediment slurries by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is proposed. The slurry, 1 mg ml⁻¹, is prepared by mixing the sample ground to a particle size 50 μm with 5% v/v nitric and 1% v/v hydrofluoric acids in an ultrasonic bath. The slurry was homogenized with a constant flow of argon in the autosampler cup, just before transferring an aliquot to the graphite furnace. The tube was treated with Ru as a permanent modifier, and an optimized mass of 1 μg of NaCl was added as a physical carrier. The pyrolysis temperature was optimized through pyrolysis curves, and a compromised temperature of 800 °C was used; the vaporization temperature was 2300 °C. The effect of different acid concentrations in the slurry on the analyte signal intensities was also evaluated. The accuracy of the method was assured by the analysis of certified reference sediments MESS-2, PACS-2 and HISS-1 from the National Research Council Canada, SRM 2704 and SRM 1646a from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and RS-4 from a round robin test, using external calibration with aqueous standards prepared in the same medium as the slurries. The obtained concentrations were in agreement with the certified values according to the Student's t-test for a confidence level of 95%. The detection limits in the samples were: 0.17 μg g⁻¹ for As; 0.3 μg g⁻¹ for Pb; 0.05 μg g⁻¹ for Se and 0.28 μg g⁻¹ for Sn. The precision found for the different sediment samples, expressed as R.S.D. was 1–8% for As, 2–9% for Pb, 6–12% for Se and 3–8% for Sn (n=5).     

Investigation of equilibration and uncertainty contributions for the determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The mass fractions of Hg and methylmercury, in two certified reference materials, NIST2710 and DORM-2, have been determined by total and species-specific isotope dilution analysis (IDA), respectively, and uncertainty budgets for each analysis calculated. The mass fraction of Hg in NIST2710 was determined by ID using multicollector sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-SF-ICP-MS) whilst the mass fraction of methylmercury in DORM-2 was determined using HPLC coupled with quadrupole ICP-MS.

The extent of equilibration between the spike and the particulate bound mercury compounds was studied temporally by monitoring the ²⁰⁰Hg:¹⁹⁹Hg isotope amount ratio and by determining the total amount of Hg in the liquid phase. For the NIST2710 complete equilibration was only achieved when concentrated HNO₃ in combination with a microwave digestion was employed, and good agreement between the found (31.7±4.0 μg g⁻¹, expanded uncertainty k=2) and certified (32.6±1.8 μg g⁻¹) values was obtained. For DORM-2 complete equilibration of methylmercury between the liquid and solid phases was achieved when using 50:50 H₂O:CH₃OH (v/v) and 0.01% 2-mercaptoethanol as the solvent. Even though only 50% of the analyte was extracted into the liquid phase, complete equilibration was achieved, hence, the found methylmercury mass fraction (4.25±0.47 μg g⁻¹, expanded uncertainty k=2) was in good agreement with the certified value (4.47±0.32 μg g⁻¹).     

Analytical procedures for improved trace element detection limits in polar ice from Arctic Canada using ICP-SMS

Analytical procedures have been developed for the reliable determination of 19 trace elements (Ag, Al, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Tl, U, V, Zn) in ice samples at pg g⁻¹ and fg g⁻¹ concentrations using ICP-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SMS). Concentrations of most elements in the high purity water and doubly distilled HNO₃ employed were distinctly lower than previously reported values. The accuracy of the results was carefully evaluated using the certified water reference material SLRS-4. Contributions of unwanted trace elements due to acidification of the ice samples (0.5% HNO₃) to the total element budget amounted to only 0.001 pg g⁻¹ for Bi, 0.34 pg g⁻¹ for Cr, 0.2 pg g⁻¹ for Fe, 0.004 pg g⁻¹ for Pb, 0.00015 pg g⁻¹ for U and 0.0025 pg g⁻¹ for V: compared to the concentrations of the metals in ice these are negligible. The use of a detergent (0.05%) in the rinsing solution (0.5% HNO₃), helped to reduce memory effects by 59–98%, depending on the element considered; this resulted in shorter washing times between samples (i.e. 1 min) and improved analysis time. Adopting strict clean room procedures, the detection limit for Pb (0.06 pg g⁻¹) is a factor of ten lower than the current state-of-the-art. Compared to previous studies, the improved LODs obtained here for other trace elements amount to 2× (Ag), 4× (Sb), 5× (Ba), 6× (Cu, Mn, U), 9× (Bi), 13× (Cd), 18× (Fe) and 21× (V). The developed analytical protocols were successfully applied to the determination of selected trace elements in age-dated ice samples from the Canadian High Arctic. The toxic trace element Tl (median: 0.16 pg g⁻¹; range: 0.03–1.32 pg g⁻¹) and the lithogenic reference element Sc (0.53 pg g⁻¹; 0.06–2.9 pg g⁻¹) have been determined in a polar ice core for the first time.     

8-Hydroxyquinoline anchored to silica gel via new moderate size linker: synthesis and applications as a metal ion collector for their flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination

The silica gel modified with (3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane) was reacted with 5-formyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (FHOQ_x) to anchor 8-quinolinol ligand on the silica gel. It was characterised with cross polarisation magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transformation (DRIFT) spectroscopy and used for the preconcentration of Cu(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Co(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The surface area of the modified silica gel has been found to be 227 m² g⁻¹ and the two pKa values as 3.8 and 8.0. The optimum pH ranges for quantitative sorption are 4.0–7.0, 4.5–7.0, 3.0–6.0, 5.0–8.0, 5.0–8.0, 5.0–8.0 and 4.0–7.0 for Cu, Pb, Fe, Zn, Co, Ni and Cd, respectively. All the metals can be desorbed with 2.5 mol l⁻¹ HCl or HNO₃. The sorption capacity for these metal ions is in range of 92–448.0 μmol g⁻¹ and follows the order Cd3, NaCl, NaBr, Na₂SO₄ and Na₃PO₄, glycine, sodium citrate, EDTA, humic acid and cations Ca(II), Mg(II), Mn(II) and Cr(III) in the sorption of all the seven metal ions are reported. The preconcentration factors are 150, 250, 200, 300, 250, 300 and 200 for Cd, Co, Zn, Cu, Pb, Fe and Ni, respectively and t_1/2 values <1 min except for Ni. The 95% extraction by batch method takes ≤25 min. The simultaneous enrichment and determination of all the metals are possible if the total load of the metal ions is less than sorption capacity. In river water samples all these metal ions were enriched with the present ligand anchored silica gel and determined with flame atomic absorption spectrometer (R.S.D.≤6.4%). Cobalt contents of pharmaceutical samples (vitamin tablet) were preconcentrated with the present chelating silica gel and estimated by flame AAS, with R.S.D.1.4%. The results are in the good agreement with the certified value, 1.99 μg g⁻¹ of the tablets. Iron and copper in certified reference materials (synthetic) SLRS-4 and SLEW-3 have been enriched with the modified silica gel and estimated with R.S.D.<5%.     

Multi-elemental analysis of non-food packaging materials by inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Commercial non-food packaging materials of four different matrices (paper, low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene-polypropylene (PE-PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE)) were examined for the content of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb and U. The examined samples (0.17–0.35 g) were digested in HNO₃ and H₂O₂ (papers, LDPE and PE-PP) and in HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂ (HDPE) using microwave assisted high pressure system. The inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS) has been employed as the detection technique. All measurements were carried out using internal standardization. Yttrium and rhodium (50 ng g⁻¹) were used as internal standards. The detection and quantification limits obtained were in the range of 0.005 ng g⁻¹ (⁵²Cr) to 0.51 ng g⁻¹ (⁶⁶Zn) and 0.015 μg g⁻¹ (⁵²Cr) to 2.02 μg g⁻¹ (⁶⁶Zn) of dry mass, respectively. The evaluated contents (mg kg⁻¹) of particular elements in the examined materials were as follows: 0.22–219; <1.05–9.03; 1.25–112; <2.02–449; <0.98–<1.30; <0.36–2.06; <0.29–113; <0.22–44.1; <0.06–57.4; <0.66–<0.88; <0.08–0.24; <0.13–1222 and <0.08–0.44 for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb and U, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of total arsenic and total selenium in Chinese medicinal herbs by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry in tartaric acid medium

By HG-AFS, a new method was proposed for simultaneous determination of total arsenic and total selenium existed in the Chinese medicinal herbs in tartaric acid medium. The effects of analytical conditions and coexisting ions on the fluorescence signal intensity of analytes were investigated. The proposed method was provided with linear response ranges above 22 μg l⁻¹ for As and 44 μg l⁻¹ for Se, and the detection limits of 0.13 and 0.12 μg l⁻¹ were obtained for As and Se respectively. The recoveries of 93.8–96.1% for As and 95.3–99.1% for Se, and the precision of 1.2–3.8% and 2.4–5.3% (R.S.D., n = 8) respectively, were obtained via simultaneous determined four samples of Chinese medicinal herbs and three certified botanic reference materials successfully. The proposed method has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity and high efficiency.     

Titanium as a chemical modifier for the determination of cobalt in marine sediments

The determination of cobalt in marine sediments by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was studied using no modifier and magnesium and titanium as modifiers. Titanium is one of the major sediment constituents, which widely affects the cobalt determination and it was studied as a chemical modifier since it was the only concomitant that increased the cobalt signal in the concentration range usually found in sediments. The performance of Mg and Ti as chemical modifiers was compared relative to maximum pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, linear calibration range, sensitivity and matrix effects. The pyrolysis curves showed that the analyte could be stabilized up to 1400 °C when either Ti or Mg(NO₃)₂ was present, while only 1000 °C could be used in the absence of a modifier. The optimum atomization temperature was 2500 °C in all cases. Analytical curves were compared using no modifier, 5 μg Ti and 100 μg Mg(NO₃)₂ as modifiers, and the linear range found was up to approximately 4 ng Co whether a modifier was used or not. With Ti as a chemical modifier, analytical curves for cobalt in aqueous solution and in a synthetic matrix resulted in the same sensitivity (m₀=55 pg), whereas the use of Mg led to characteristic mass values of 59 and 72 pg in aqueous solution and in a synthetic matrix, respectively, showing some matrix effect. The detection limits (3σ, n=10) were 0.4 μg g⁻¹ using no modifier and 0.3 μg g⁻¹ with Ti as a modifier in the original matrix. A reference estuarine sediment NIST 1646 with a non-certified content of 10.5 μg g⁻¹ Co was analyzed and the found value of 10.9±2.4 μg g⁻¹, (n=3), using Ti as chemical modifier and calibration against aqueous standards, was in good agreement with the recommended value.     

Simultaneous determination of arsenic, antimony and selenium by gas-phase diode array molecular absorption spectrometry, after preconcentration in a cryogenic trap

This paper describes a method for the simultaneous determination of As(III), Sb(III) and Se(IV) by combining hydride generation and gas phase molecular absorption spectrometry. A system for continuous hydride generation has been designed and developed, based on the use of a double process of gas-liquid separation, and optimal compromise operation conditions for the three compounds have been found. After generation, the hydrides are collected in a liquid nitrogen cryogenic trap, and then evaporated and driven to the flow cell of a diode array spectrophotometer, in which the transient signals over the 190–250 nm wavelength interval are measured. Under the recommended conditions (sample flow: 35 ml min⁻¹, 0.5 M HCl; reductor flow: 4 ml min⁻¹ of 4% NaBH₄, solution) linear response ranges above 50 μg 1⁻¹ for As(III), 30 μg 1⁻¹ for Sb(III) and 200 μg 1⁻¹ for Se(IV) are obtained with detection limits of 22 μg 1⁻¹, 15 μg 1⁻¹ and 65 μg 1⁻¹, respectively. Multiwavelength linear regression equations were used for the simultaneous determination of the three elements in different synthetic samples, with good precision and accuracy and to study simultaneously the interference from different chemical species for the three compounds. Results were similar to those obtained by other techniques using hydride generation.     

Pyrocatechol Violet immobilized Amberlite XAD-2: synthesis and metal-ion uptake properties suitable for analytical applications

Amberlite XAD-2 has been functionalized by coupling it, through the ---N=N--- group, with Pyrocatechol Violet (PV), and the resulting resin has been characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and IR spectra. The resin has been used for preconcentrating Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II) ions prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption are 5, 5–7, 4, and 3 for Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni, respectively. The four metals can be desorbed (recovery ˜98%) with 4 M HNO₃; also, 4 M HCl is equally suitable except for Zn. The sorption capacity of the resin is 1410, 1270, 620 and 1360 μg g⁻¹ resin for Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb, respectively. The effect of F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ on the sorption of these four metal ions has been investigated. They are tolerable in the range 0.01–0.20 M, for Pb. In the sorption of Zn(II) and Ni(II), the tolerance limits of all these ions are upto 0.01 M, whereas for Cd(II), F⁻, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻ have been found to be tolerable upto 0.50, 0.10 and 0.10 M, respectively. The preconcentration factors are 60, 50, 23 and 18 for Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni, respectively. Simultaneous collection and determination of the four metals are possible. Cations commonly present in drinking water do not affect the sorption of either metal ion if present at a concentration level similar to that of water. The method has been applied to determine Zn, Ni and Pb content of well-water samples (RSD ≤9%).     

Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with o-aminophenol: synthesis and applications as extractant for copper(II), cobalt(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and lead(II)

A stable chelating resin matrix was synthesized by covalently linking o-aminophenol (o-AP) with the benzene ring of the polystyrene–divinylbenzene resin, Amberlite XAD-2, through a –N=N– group. Elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared spectra have characterized the resulting chelating resin. It has been used to preconcentrate Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺, prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum pH values for quantitative sorption of Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb are 6.2–7.4, 5.6–7.2, 5.6–9.0, 6.0–9.0, 5.7–7.0 and 5.0–6.0, respectively. These metals are desorbed (recovery 91–98%) with 4 mol dm⁻³ HNO₃. The sorption capacity of the resin is 3.37, 3.42, 3.29, 3.24, 2.94 and 3.32 mg of metal g⁻¹ of resin, respectively, for Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb. The effect of NaF, NaCl, NaNO₃, Na₂SO₄, and Na₃PO₄ on the sorption of these metal ions has been investigated. These electrolytes are tolerable up to 0.01 mol dm⁻³ in case of all the metal ions, except Cl⁻ which is tolerable even up to 0.1 mol dm⁻³ for Zn and 1.0 mol dm⁻³ for Pb. The preconcentration factor for Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb are 50, 50, 100, 65, 40 and 40 (concentration level 10–25 μg dm⁻³) respectively. Simultaneous enrichment of the six metals is possible. The method has been applied to determine Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb content in well water samples (RSD≤8%).     

Determination of mercury in soils and sediments by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling

A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric procedure for the determination of mercury is presented, in which the samples are suspended in a solution containing hydrofluoric and nitric acids. Silver nitrate (4% m/v) and potassium permanganate (3%) are incorporated, in the order specified, and aliquots are directly introduced into the graphite furnace. A fast heating programme with no conventional pyrolysis step is used. The detection limit for mercury in a 125 mg ml⁻¹ suspension is 0.1 μg g⁻¹. Calibration is performed by using aqueous standards. The reliability of the procedure is proved by analysing certified reference materials.     

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.     

Simultaneous determination of selenium and lead in whole blood samples by differential pulse polarography

The polarographic reduction of lead in the presence of selenite gives rise to an additional peak corresponding to the reduction of lead (Pb) on adsorbed selenium (Se) on mercury at −0.33 V. The selenium and lead content can be determined using this peak by the addition of a known amount of one of these ions first and then the second ion. The linear domain range of lead is 5.0×10⁻⁷–2.0×10⁻⁵ M and for selenium 5.0×10⁻⁷–1.0×10⁻⁵ M. Using this method 4.90×10⁻⁷ M Se(IV) and 1.47×10⁻⁶ M Pb(II) in a synthetic sample could be determined with a relative error of +2.0% and 1.8%, respectively (n=4). A recovery test after acid digestion for a synthetic sample was 97% for selenium and 96.5% for lead. The method was applied to 1 ml of digested blood, and 328±23 μg l⁻¹ Se(IV) and 850±62 μg l⁻¹ Pb(II) could be determined with a 90% (n=5) confidence interval.     

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.     

Determination of Ga, Ge, As, Se and Sb in fly ash samples by ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (USS-ETV-ICP-MS) has been applied to determine Ga, Ge, As, Se and Sb in fly ash samples. The influences of instrument operating conditions and slurry preparation on the ion signals were reported. Pd and ascorbic acid were used as the mixed modifiers to enhance the ion signals. This method has been applied to determine Ga, Ge, As, Se and Sb in NIST SRM 1633a and 1633b coal fly ash reference materials and a fly ash sample collected locally. Since the sensitivities of the elements studied in slurry solution and aqueous solution were different slightly, analyte addition technique was used for the determination of Ga, Ge, As, Se and Sb in these samples. The As and Se analysis results of the reference materials agreed with the certified values. The results for which no certified value was available were also found to be in good agreement between the ETV-ICP-MS results and the reference values. The reference value was obtained by digesting the samples and analyzing the digested sample solutions by pneumatic nebulization Dynamic Reaction Cell™ (DRC) ICP-MS. The method detection limits estimated from analyte addition curves were about 0.23, 0.13, 0.17, 0.25 and 0.11 μg g⁻¹ for Ga, Ge, As, Se and Sb, respectively, in original fly ash samples.     

Effect of irradiation on anti-nutrients (total phenolics, tannins and phytate) in Brazilian beans

The Brazilian bean varieties Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Carioca and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp var. Macaçar were irradiated with doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 kGy and subsequently stored at ambient temperature for 6 months. The anti-nutrients phenolic compounds, tannins and phytate were determined to be 0.48 mg g⁻¹ dry basis, 1.8 mg g⁻¹ dry basis and 13.5 μmol g⁻¹ dry basis in the raw non-irradiated Carioca beans and 0.30 mg g⁻¹ dry basis, 0.42 mg g⁻¹ dry basis and 7.5 μmol g⁻¹ dry basis in the raw non-irradiated Macaçar beans. After soaking and cooking a higher content of phenolic compounds and a lower phytate content was observed in both bean varieties. Tannin content was not affected by soaking and cooking of Carioca beans, but higher after soaking and cooking of Macaçar beans. Using radiation doses relevant for food did not effect the content of the anti-nutrients under investigation in both bean varieties.     

Exploiting flow injection and sequential injection anodic stripping voltammetric systems for simultaneous determination of some metals

Flow injection (FI) and sequential injection (SI) systems with anodic stripping voltammetric detection have been exploited for simultaneous determination of some metals. A pre-plated mercury film on a glassy carbon disc electrode was used as a working electrode in both systems. The same film can be repeatedly applied for at least 50 analysis cycles, thus reducing the mercury consumption and waste. A single line FI voltammetric system using an acetate buffer as a carrier and an electrolyte solution was employed. An injected standard/sample zone was mixed with the buffer in a mixing coil before entering a flow cell. Metal ions were deposited on the working electrode by applying a potential of −1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The stripping was performed by anodically scanning potential of working electrode to +0.25 V, resulting a voltammogram. Effects of acetate buffer concentration, flow rate and sample volume were investigated. Under the selected condition, detection limits of 1 μg l⁻¹ for Cd(II), 18 μg l⁻¹ for Cu(II), 2 μg l⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 17 μg l⁻¹ for Zn(II) with precisions of 2–5% (n=11) were obtained. The SI voltammetric system was similar to the FI system and using an acetate buffer as a carrier solution. The SI system was operated by a PC via in-house written software and employing an autotitrator as a syringe pump. Standard/sample was aspirated and the zone was then sent to a flow cell for measurement. Detection limits for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 6, 3, 10 and 470 μg l⁻¹, respectively. Applications to water samples were demonstrated. A homemade UV-digester was used for removing organic matters in the wastewater samples prior to analysis by the proposed voltammetric systems.     

Determination of long-lived radionuclides in concrete matrix by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A laser ablation system using a Nd:YAG laser was coupled both to a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometer and to a double-focusing sector field ICP mass spectrometer. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of long-lived radionuclides in a concrete matrix. The investigated samples were two laboratory standards with a concrete matrix, which we doped with different long-lived radionuclides (e.g. ⁹⁹Tc, ²³²Th, ²³³U, ²³⁷Np) from the ng g⁻¹ to μ g⁻¹ concentration range and an undoped concrete material (blank). Detection limits for long-lived radionuclides in the 10 ng g⁻¹ range are reached for LA-ICP-MS using the quadrupole mass spectrometer. With double-focusing sector field ICP-MS, the limits of detection are in general one order of magnitude lower and reach the sub ng g⁻¹ range for ²³³U and ²³⁷Np. A comparison of mass spectrometric results with those of neutron activation analysis on undoped concrete sample indicates that a semiquantitative determination of the concentrations of the minor and trace elements in the concrete matrix is possible with LA-ICP-MS without using a standard reference material.     

Cellulose based macromolecular chelator having pyrocatechol as an anchored ligand: synthesis and applications as metal extractant prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Pyrocatechol is immobilized on cellulose via ---NH---CH₂---CH₂---NH---SO₂---C₆H₄---N=N--- linker and the resulting macromolecular chelator characterized by IR, TGA, CPMAS ¹³C NMR and elemental analyses. It has been used for enrichment of Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The pH ranges for quantitative sorption (98.0–99.4%) are 4.0–7.0, 5.0–6.0, 3.0–4.0, 5.0–7.0, 5.0–8.0, 7.0–8.0 and 4.0–5.0, respectively. The desorption was found quantitative with 0.5 mol dm⁻³ HCl/HNO₃ (for Pb). The sorption capacity of the matrix for the seven metal ions has been found in the range 85.3–186.2 μmol g⁻¹. The optimum flow rate of metal ion solution for quantitative sorption of metal onto pyrocatechol functionalized cellulose as determined by column method, is 2–6 cm³ min⁻¹, whereas for desorption it is 2–4 cm³ min⁻¹. The tolerance limits for NaCl, NaBr, NaI, NaNO₃, Na₂SO₄, Na₃PO_4, humic acid, EDTA, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium tartrate, Ca(II) and Mg(II) in the sorption of all the seven metal ions are reported. Ascorbic acid is tolerable up to 0.8 mmol dm⁻³ with Cu and Pb where as sodium tartrate does not interfere up to 0.6 mmol dm⁻³ with Pb. There is no interference of NaBr, NaCl and NaNO₃ up to a concentration of 0.5 mol dm⁻³, in the sorption of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Fe(III) on to the chelating cellulose matrix The preconcentration factors are between 75 and 300 and t_1/2 values ≤5 min for all the metal ions. Simultaneous sorption of Cu, Zn, Ni and Co is possible at pH 5.0 if their total concentration does not exceed lowest sorption capacity. The present matrix coupled with FAAS has been used to enrich and determine the seven metal ions in river and tap water samples (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) 1.05–7.20%) and synthetic certified water sample SLRS-4 (NRC, Canada) with R.S.D. 2.03%. The cobalt present in pharmaceutical vitamin tablets was also preconcentrated on the modified cellulose and determined by FAAS (R.S.D. 1.87%).