Ultratrace determination of tin by hydride generation in-atomizer trapping atomic absorption spectrometry

A quartz multiatomizer with its inlet arm modified to serve as a trap (trap-and-atomizer device) was employed to trap tin hydride and subsequently to volatilize collected analyte species with atomic absorption spectrometric detection. Generation, atomization and preconcentration conditions were optimized and analytical figures of merit of both on-line atomization as well as preconcentration modes were quantified. Preconcentration efficiency of 95 ± 5% was found. The detection limits reached were 0.029 and 0.14 ng mL⁻¹ Sn, respectively, for 120 s preconcentration period and on-line atomization mode without any preconcentration. The interference extent of other hydride forming elements (As, Se, Sb and Bi) on tin determination was found negligible in both modes of operation. The applicability of the developed preconcentration method was verified by Sn determination in a certified reference material as well as by analysis of real samples.     

Sequential spectrophotometric determination of inorganic arsenic species by hydride generation from selective medium reactions and colour bleaching of permanganate

A simple spectrophotometric method is presented for the sequential determination of inorganic arsenic (As) species in one sample. It is based on the sequential arsine generation from As(III) and As(V) using selective medium reactions, collection of the arsine generated in an absorbing solution containing permanganate and ethanol at 5 °C and subsequent reduction of permanganate by arsine. The decrease in permanganate absorbance at 524.2 nm is monitored for As determination. The acetic acid/sodium acetate and HCl mediums were used for selective arsine generation from As(III) and remaining As(V) in one solution, respectively. The effect of interferences and their possible mechanisms were discussed. Interferences from transition metal ions were removed by using a Chelex 100 resin. Under optimized conditions, the established method is applicable to the determination of 3-30 μg of each arsenic species. Good recoveries (96-102%) of spiked artificial sea water, tap water and standard mixtures of As(III) and As(V) were also found. The method is simple, accurate, precise and environmental friendly.     

Investigations for the determination of tin by flow injection hydride generation atomic-absorption spectrometry

It could be shown that the pre- or double peaks which are frequently observed in the determination of tin by hydride generation atomic-absorption spectrometry are not due to reagent contamination or memory effects. Rather they originate from the silica material used to make the quartz tube atomizer. At elevated temperatures the tin diffuses to the surface and it can be volatilized and atomized only in the presence of hydrogen. The height of the pre-peak depends, among other things, on the time for which the quartz tube atomizer has been at a high temperature without hydrogen. The pre-peaks disappear when argon with 10% (v/v) hydrogen is used as the purge gas. In flow injection the pre-peaks can be separated in time from the analytical signal by using a program in which hydrogen is generated by reaction of sodium tetrahydroborate reluctant solution with the acid carrier prior to the injection of the sample. Also investigated was the influence of the acid and sodium tetrahydroborate concentration on sensitivity and freedom from interferences. Best results were obtained when a saturated boric acid solution containing 0.1M hydrochloric acid was used for standards, samples and carrier solution, and a 0.4% (m/v) sodium tetrahydroborate solution with 0.05% (m/v) sodium hydroxide as the reluctant. Under these conditions tin could be determined accurately in the range 0.008-0.1% in low alloy steel standard reference materials, with matrix-free standard solutions for calibration.     

Atomic-absorption spectrophotometric determination of traces of manganese with thenoyltrifluoroacetone

An atomic-absorption spectrophotometric method for the determination of traces of manganese in solution with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) is described. Manganese(II) is extracted with 0.01M TTA in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) at pH 9.5. The atomic-absorption of the organic phase at 279.5 nm is measured. Except for chromium, iron, hafnium, niobium, nickel, rhodium, tin, titanium and zirconium, microquantities of many other cations and anions do not interfere. Iron can be removed by MIBK extraction before the TTA extraction. The sensitivity of the method was 1.6 ng/ml for 1% absorption in aqueous solution. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of environmental waters. Manganese in the filtered fractions of water samples was reliably determined with relative standard deviations of 7% at the 5 mug/l. level and 1% at 50 mug/l.     

Atomic-absorption spectrophotometric determination of volatile organolead compounds in the atmosphere

Summary The determination of the total concentration of tetraalkyllead compounds in the air is based on the cryogenic condensation in a cooled trap at –130° C, thermal desorption at 60° C into impingers containing nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and a determination with graphite furnace atomic-absorption. The method is highly specific and suffers no interferences from lead in the particulate phase. The detection limit is 42 ng Pb/m³ for air samples of ca. 3601.This work was carried out within the framework of the National Research and Development Program on Environment of the Interministrial Commission for Science Policy, Belgium.     

Evaluation of electrochemical hydride generation for spectrophotometric determination of As(III) by silver diethyldithiocarbamate

A batch electrochemical hydride generation system was developed for the spectrophotometric determination of inorganic As(III) by silver diethyldithiocarbamate. This method is based on electrochemical reduction of As to Arsine (AsH₃) in acidic media and on the subsequent reaction of AsH₃ with silver diethyldithiocarbamate to give an absorbing complex at 525 nm. The electrochemical generator consisted of a cathode cell separated from the anode cell by a porous glass frit and was operated with a constant direct current. A pre-activated graphite rod was used as cathode material for the production of AsH₃. The parameters related to the electrochemical hydride generation were investigated. Under optimized conditions, only As(III) can be converted to AsH₃ and a pre-reducing stage is required for total inorganic As analysis. The characteristic data of the electrochemical hydride generation and common hydride generation by NaBH₄ were compared. Also, the effects of interferences and their elimination were investigated. An absolute detection limit of 0.5 μg (3s_b) and a concentration detection limit of 0.05 μg/ml were obtained using a 10 ml sample volume. The relative standard deviation for five replicate analysis of 30 μg As(III) was 1.2%. The accuracy and recovery of the method were demonstrated by analysing spiked artificial sea water and tap water.     

Direct spectrophotometric determination of indium in tin

Indium is separated from tin by an anion-exchange process in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid solution. Subsequently, the indium is extracted into 1,2-dichlorobenzene as its complex with 5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol. The complex forms and extracts quantitatively in the pH range 3–7. The yellow, organic phase is measured spectrophotometrically at 415 mμ; ; its absorbancy is directly proportional to the indium content of the aqueous phase up to a total of 1.5 mg of indium per 50 ml. This procedure quantitatively separates the two metals, allows one to determine the indium content of indium(<5%)-tin alloys with a relative error less than 0.7%, and considerably reduces color fading errors inherent in some previously reported spectrophotometric methods for indium.     

On the determination of total dissolved tin in natural waters by direct hydride generation and non-dispersive atomic-fluorescence spectrometry

The analytical response of inorganic tin and of eleven organotin compounds of the type R(n)SnX(4-)(n) (with n = 1, 2, 3 and R = methyl, ethyl, butyl and phenyl) was compared for direct hydride generation with non-dispersive atomic fluorescence detection. Most of these compounds showed behaviour resembling that of inorganic tin, with the exception of tributyltin and the phenyltin compounds. A simple pretreatment with 10(-3)M bromine and 0.033M nitric acid at 70 degrees for 60 niin prevents any risk of underestimation and the total dissolved tin in natural waters can be determined with recoveries better than 90%, with inorganic tin as calibration standard.     

Semi-automatic determination of tin in marine materials by continuous flow hydride generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

 A semi-automated continuous flow hydride generation system with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used for the determination of tin in marine materials. The effects of acids (H₂SO₄ and HCl) were studied. The analytical parameters were thoroughly investigated. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit is 0.4 ng/ml. Interferences from transition elements were investigated and seven masking reagents were tested. L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate (1%) was used to mask the interferences from foreign ions. Finally, the accuracy, checked with a marine standard reference material obtained from the National Research Council (NRC), was within the certified value. Received: 23 April 1996/Revised: 8 July 1996/Accepted: 15 July 1996     

Simultaneous determination of germanium,arsenic, tin and antimony by molecular emission cavity analysis after hydride generation and gas chromatographic separation

Arsenic (0.1–5 μg), antimony (1–40 μg), tin (0.5–10 μg) and germanium (0.2–10 μg) are determined simultaneously by reduction to their hydrides with sodium tetrahydroborate(III), followed by gas chromatographic separation on a column of 10% E-301 silicone gum rubber on Porapak Q, and measurement of the emissions at 490 nm in an oxygen/hydrogen flame within a cavity. Detection limits for 1-ml samples are 35 ng As, 400 ng Sb, 85 ng Sn and 100 ng Ge. A more sensitive determination of arsenic (0.05–3 μg) and antimony (0.1–5 μg) in binary mixtures is also described; the detection limits are 15 ng As and 40 ng Sb.     

Alkalimetric determination of amoxycillin trihydrate in non-aqueous medium

A simple method for determination of amoxycillin by non-aqueous titration in dimethylformamide medium is described. The relative standard deviation is 0.3%.     

Determination of arsenic by pervaporation-flow injection hydride generation and permanganate spectrophotometric detection

A novel pervaporation-flow injection (PFI) system for the determination of As(III) in aqueous samples at μg l⁻¹ level is described. The analytical procedure involved stopping the acceptor stream and injecting acidified As(III) samples into a 0.3 M HCl stream which was mixed with a 0.14 M sodium borohydride in 0.025 M NaOH stream. The arsine generated was transported in the pervaporation unit across a semi-permeable membrane (1.5 mm thickness) into the static acceptor solution containing 1.0×10⁻⁴ M KMnO₄ in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ where it was oxidised. The acceptor stream was restarted after 6.5 min, and the decrease in permanganate absorbance at 528 nm was monitored to determine the initial concentration of As(III) in the samples. The method is characterised by a linear calibration range from 0.25 to 2000 μg l⁻¹, a detection limit of 0.18 μg l⁻¹ and a sampling frequency of 7 h⁻¹. Samples containing As(V) were pre-treated with KI and HCl prior to injection to reduce As(V) to As(III). The effects of common anionic and cationic interferences, and the elimination of some metallic interferences using -cysteine are discussed. The method was applied to the analysis of environmental waters and the results were in good agreement with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric data.     

Automated determination of tin by hydride generation using in situ trapping on stable coatings in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Conditions have been studied for the determination of Sn by coupling of hydride generation and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Sequestering and in situ concentration of Sn hydride in the graphite furnace requires just a single application of a long-term stable trapping reagent for automated analyses. In a systematic study it is shown that effective trapping of stannane is possible on graphite tubes or platforms coated with a carbide-forming element such as Zr, Nb, Ta, or W at trapping temperatures of 500 to 600°C. Trapping temperatures should not be higher than 600°C (the “critical temperature”) because otherwise at temperatures higher than 700°C errors in absorbance values could occur by an adsorptive “carry-over effect”. Signal stability and reproducibility are tested over more than 400 complete trapping and atomization cycles, and a precision of 2% is observed. Narrow peaks are obtained for all coatings except for Nb- and Ta-coated platforms where double peaks occur. Ir- or Pd/Ir-coated surfaces allow trapping of stannane at lower temperatures but the signal stability (especially in the case of Pd/Ir coating) is lower than with the carbide-forming element coatings. The highest sensitivity is found for Zr- and W-coated tubes with a characteristic mass of about 17 and 20 pg, respectively, and the calibration curves are linear up to 2 ng Sn on Zr-treated tubes (peak height) and 4 ng on Zr-coated platforms (integrated absorbance) using the 286.3 nm line. The detection limit is 25 pg for a 1 ml sample volume, and the reagent blank is still significant with the purest available chemicals. The method is tested by determination of Sn in low alloy steel samples.     

Rapid spectrophotometric determination of cobalt after extraction using oximidobenzotetronic acid

A spectrophotometric method based on the extraction of cobalt with benzene solutions of oximidobenzotetronic acid (OBTA) is proposed for the estimation of 0.2-3.0 ppm of cobalt. The 3:1 OBTA : Co complex containing cobalt(III) has its absorption maximum at 430 nm; its molar absorptivity in benzene is 1.82 x 10(3)L. mole(-1). mm(-1). Since the blue iron(II) complex is not extracted into benzene, iron(II) and cobalt(II) can be separated and determined spectrophotometrically.     

The determination of trace amounts of tin by flow-injection hydride generation atomic-absorption spectrometry with on-line ion-exchange separation and preconcentration

A hydride generation atomic-absorption spectrometric (AAS) method with flow-injection (FI), aimed at developing a practical routine assay for the determination of tin in food digests, is described. In order to modify the sample matrix and to achieve optimized and reproducible conditions for the hydride generation reaction, the analyte is initially converted into its chlorostannate-complex thereby allowing it to be separated and preconcentrated on-line on an incorporated micro-column packed with a strongly basic anion exchanger and subsequently to be eluted by diluted nitric acid under strictly controlled conditions. Optimum acidic conditions for the FI hydride generation AAS system was found to be 0.01-0.05M nitric acid. At a consumption of 2.7-ml sample volume, aspirated by time-based injection, the procedure resulted in an enrichment factor of 3.5 and yielded a detection limit of 0.08 microg/l. (3sigma) at a sampling frequency of 72/hr. The precision was 2.5% rsd at the 10 microg/l. level. Potential interferents, such as Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II) and Fe(III) could, at a Sn level of 10 microg/l., be tolerated at an excess of 1000 times without impairing the assay, while a 100-1000-fold excess of Cu(II) decreased the signal by 10-15%. Recoveries in the range 94-102% were obtained for canned food sample digests spiked with 10 microg/l. Sn.     

Determination of tin in atmospheric particulate matter by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure is described for the determination of tin in atmospheric particulate matter collected on Whatman 41 cellulose filters. The samples are decomposed with sulfuric acid and nitric acid, followed by hydrofluoric acid to dissolve residual silicates. The analytical parameters for the hydride generation and the subsequent atomic absorption spectrometric measurements are optimized. Severe memory effects encountered with an automatic generator system are avoided when a manual apparatus is used. The precision of the entire method is within 10%. The detection limit is 0.20 ng m^?3 tin if 500 m³ of air is filtered. The concentrations found in residential and industrial areas varied between 1.8 and 47.5 ng m^?3.     

Electrochemical hydride generation for the determination of hydride forming elements by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The determinations of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se were performed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry following their electrochemical hydride generation. An electrochemical hydride generator based on a screw-thread seal arrangement, working in a continuous flow mode was used. The effects of cathode material, shape and area of material, catholyte, sample flow rate, applied current, catholyte solution concentration and interference of transition metals on signal intensity were studied. Five kinds of materials including lead, graphite, copper, tungsten and platinum with different shapes were tested as cathode materials. The signal obtained from a 3-dimensional electrode was higher than that from a 2-dimensional electrode under the same conditions. The signal intensity of Ge in HNO₃ medium within a narrow concentration range of 0.05–0.10 mol L^{− 1} was stronger than that in other acidic medium, such as HCl and H₂SO₄. However, the signal intensity of Ge was rapidly decreased with HNO₃, HCl and H₂SO₄ concentration increasing, and then reached approximately zero. In general, limits of detection and a precision were improved using a graphite cathode in H₃PO₄ medium. The analysis of the reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values for As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se. The method was successfully applied in the determination of As, Bi, Ge, Sb and Se in traditional Chinese medicine samples.