Simple detection of trace Pb2+ by enrichment on cerium phosphate membrane filter coupled with color signaling

A Pb(2+) selective membrane filter was fabricated from the fibrous CeO(H(2)PO(4))(2).2H(2)O (CeP) crystals by blending with cellulose fiber. Enrichment of ppb level of Pb(2+) was achieved simply by filtration of aqueous sample solution through the membrane filter. Pb(2+) was strongly retained on the membrane filter by accommodation into the interlayer gallery of a CeP crystal. Visual detection of the enriched Pb(2+) was achieved by subsequent color signaling as PbS deposit upon treatment of the membrane filter with 3% Na(2)S solution. The analytical procedure and sample treatment conditions were optimized with respect to pH of the sample solution, filtration rate and masking of interfering ions. Detection of 20 ppb of Pb(2+) was not interfered by the presence of 1000-fold of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and up to 100-fold of Fe(3+)and Cu(2+) by masking with 1 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3) of iminodiacetic acid (IDA). Most anions including phosphate (20 000 times) did not interfere with the determination of Pb(2+). The present simple method was applied to the determination of Pb(2+) in real samples like mine valley water.     

Preconcentration and determination of lead, cadmium and nickel from water samples using a polyethylene glycol dye immobilized on poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) microspheres.

A simple and sensitive preconcentration analysis-atomic absorption spectrometric procedure is described for the determination of lead, cadmium and nickel. The method is based upon on-line preconcentration of metal ions on a minicolumn of Cibacron Blue F3-GA immobilized on poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate), poly(HEMA). The enrichment factors obtained were 42 for lead, 52 for cadmium and 63 for nickel (sample volume 10 mL and sample flow rate 5 mL/min). The relative standard deviations (n = 10), in 10 mL sample solutions containing 100 microg/L Pb(2+), 10 microg/L Cd(2+) and 100 microg/L Ni(2+) were 8.9, 3.7 and 3.5%, respectively. The limits of detection (blank + 3s) (n = 10), were found to be 12.01 microg/L for Pb(2+), 1.34 microg/L for Cd(2+) and 28.73 microg/L for Ni(2+). The accuracy of the system was checked with certified and tap water samples spiked with known amounts of metal ions. No significant difference was found between the achieved results and the certified values.     

Biomonitoring method for the simultaneous determination of cadmium and lead in whole blood by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for assessment of environmental exposure

The aim of this work is to propose a biomonitoring method for the simultaneous determination of Cd and Pb in whole blood by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry for assessment of environmental levels. A volume of 200 microL of whole blood was diluted in 500 microL of 0.2% (wv(-1)) Triton) X-100+2.0% (vv(-1)) HNO3. Trichloroacetic acid was added for protein precipitation and the supernatant analyzed. A mixture of 250 microg W+200 microg Rh as permanent and 2.0% (wv(-1)) NH4H2PO4 as co-injected modifiers were used. Characteristic masses and limits of detections (n=20, 3s) for Cd and Pb were 1.26 and 33 pg and 0.026 microg L(-1) and 0.65 microg L(-1), respectively. Repeatability ranged from 1.8 to 6.8% for Cd and 1.2 to 1.7% for Pb. The trueness of method was checked by the analysis of three Reference Materials: Lyphocheck Whole Blood Metals Control level 1 and Seronorm Trace Elements in Whole Blood levels 1 and 2. The found concentrations presented no statistical differences at the 95% confidence level. Blood samples from 40 volunteers without occupational exposure were analyzed and the concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 0.71 microg L(-1) (0.32+/-0.19 microg L(-1)) for Cd and 9.3 to 56.7 microg L(-1) (25.1+/-10.8 microgL(-1)) for Pb.     

A novel sequential injection--Cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometric system for rapid and reliable determination of mercury

A simple and rapid method is described for reliable determination of ultra-trace concentrations of mercury based on a novel combination of a sequential injection (SI) system with cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). The SI-CVAAS method achieved a very high sampling frequency of 180h(-1), a detection limit of 0.2-0.3ngmL(-1), a dynamic range of 0-60ngmL(-1) and requires only 0.2-0.6mL of sample. The presence of common metal ions, such as Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+) and Mn(2+), did not interfere with the measurement of mercury by this method. Also the interference from organic matter, such as humic substances, was easily reduced or eliminated by appropriate sample dilution. The method was successfully applied to the determination of mercury in lake sediment samples and a river sediment reference material. An average percentage recovery of 101.2% was achieved by the SI-CVAAS method for mercury in the reference material with a R.S.D. of 1.8%.     

Octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with a new Schiff's base for the preconcentration of lead and copper before their determination in water samples

A simple and fast method for the extraction and determination of ppt level of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions using octadecyl-bonded silica membrane disks modified by a new tetradentates Schiffs base [Bis(2,4-dimethoxy benzaldehyde) ethylen diimine](TDSB) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry is described. Extraction efficiency, and influence of flow rate, pH, type and the least amount of acid for stripping of Cu2+ and Pb2+ from the modified disks and break through volume were evaluated. The maximum capacity of the membrane disks modified by 5 mg of TDSB used was found to be 347 +/- 7 and 470 +/- 6 microg of copper and lead, respectively. The concentration factor is 500 (for 2500 mL water sample and flow rate of 20 mL min(-1)) and detection limit of the proposed method is 12.5 and 150.5 pg/ml for Cu2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from various water, wastewater, black tea, and hot pepper samples.     

A water soluble Al(3+) selective colorimetric and fluorescent turn-on chemosensor and its application in living cell imaging

An efficient water soluble fluorescent Al(3+) receptor, 1-[[(2-furanylmethyl)imino]methyl]-2-naphthol (1-H) was synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic tools along with single crystal X-ray crystallography. High selectivity and affinity of 1-H towards Al(3+) in HEPES buffer (DMSO/water: 1/100) of pH 7.4 at 25 °C showed it to be suitable for detection of intracellular Al(3+) by fluorescence microscopy. Metal ions, viz. alkali (Na(+), K(+)), alkaline earth (Mg(2+), Ca(2+)), and transition-metal ions (Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Cr(3+/6+), Hg(2+)) and Pb(2+), Ag(+) did not interfere. The lowest detection limit for Al(3+) was calculated to be 6.03 × 10(-7) M in 100 mM HEPES buffer (DMSO/water: 1/100). Theoretical calculations have also been included in support of the configuration of the probe-aluminium complex.     

A new approach to separation and pre-concentration of some trace metals with co-precipitation method using a triazole

A new co-precipitation method was developed to separate and pre-concentrate Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Cr(3+), Zn(2+), and Pb(2+) ions using an organic co-precipitant, 3-benzyl-4-p-nitrobenzylidenamino-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazole-5-on (BPNBAT) without adding any carrier element, following flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) determinations. Effect of some analytical conditions, such as pH of the solution, quantity of the co-precipitant, standing time, centrifugation rate and time, sample volume, and interference of concomitant ions were investigated over the recovery yields of the metal ions. The recoveries of the analyte ions were in the range of 95-102%. The detection limits, corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank, were found to be in the range of 0.3-2.0 microg L(-1). The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) obtained after analyzing a series of 10 replicates, was between 1.6% and 6.0% for the trace metal ions. The method was validated by analyzing two certified reference materials and spiked addition. The proposed procedure was applied for the trace metal ions in some environmental samples.     

The determination of low lead levels in the bone of lead-depleted mice by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Low lead levels in the femurs of mice fed with a lead-depleted diet have been determined by use of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction. The method is based on the use of Mg(NO3)2/Pd as matrix modifier which enables significant reduction of the spectral interferences prevalent if chemical modifiers based on NH4H2PO4 with either Ca or Mg are used for samples rich in Ca3(PO4)2 matrix. The method was developed and validated by use of the NIST standard reference material 1486 bone. Bones were decomposed in a pressurized microwave-heated system using 70% nitric acid. Forty-three mice femurs, with a mass of 74.62 +/- 12.54 mg, were dissolved in concentrated nitric acid. The lead results found in SRM 1486 (1.25 +/- 0.15 microg g(-1), n = 9) were in good agreement with the certificate (1.335 +/- 0.014 microg g(-1)). Recoveries of 200 ng lead added to the SRM before or after digestion were 99.0 +/- 1.4% and 98.5 +/- 1.6%, respectively. The lead detection limit in bone samples is 0.06 microg g(-1) dry mass. This method is, therefore, suitable for the determination of very low lead levels (0.06-0.20 microg Pb kg(-1) bone) in the femurs of mice fed a diet with lead level of < 20 microg kg(-1).     

Rapid determination of gold in geological samples using flow injection solid-phase chemiluminescence.

The solid-phase chemiluminescence analysis of gold on the surface of an anion-exchange resin was studied. A method for the fast determination of gold using flow injection was established. The anion-exchange resin was used as an adsorbent of gold ion in the form of AuCl4-. The cation-exchange resin was used for the on-line separation of cations in the matrix. To obtain the best results, the preconcentration and separation conditions, chemiluminescence conditions, interfering ions and their elimination conditions were optimized. The linear range of the calibration curve of AuCl4- is from 0 microg ml(-1) to 5.00 microg ml(-1). The detection limit of AuCl4- is 0.012 microg ml(-1). The method has been used for the determination of gold in geological samples (standard ores). The results are in agreement with certified value of gold standard samples with relative standard deviation from 2.22% to 8.97%. Through the use of flow injection, the preconcentration and separation can be performed automatically.     

Flotation separation and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of thallium in wastewater samples

The proposed method is a simple process for the determination of trace amount of thallium(I) in the environmental wastewater samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The wastewater samples were obtained from the environment of a cement plant and subjected to a simple treatment, such as adjusting pH and masking the interfering ions, to prepare for the flotation process in which the thallium(I) content was floated as an ion-association complex using iodide and Rhodamine B at the interface of aqueous/cyclohexane layers. The floated layer was then separated and dissolved in 2 ml of a solution, which was 1% to H2SO4 and 50% to methanol, respectively. Aliquots of 10-microl of this solution were subjected to the graphite furnace to determine the thallium(I) content. The flotation process can be carried in a weak acidic medium in which the interfering effects owing to certain metal ions were eliminated by masking them as neutral citrate chelates. The dynamic range for the determination was found to be 1.0 x 10(-8) - 1.0 x 10(-7) mol l(-1). The RSD was 3.2% and the DL was 2.5 x 10(-9) mol l(-1) (calculated as 3SD of the blank). The reliability of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of a synthetic wastewater in which the recovery was found to be 94%.     

Highly selective and efficient membrane transport of silver as AgBr2- ion using K+-decyl-18-crown-6 as carrier.

Potassium-decyl-18-crown-6 was used as a highly selective and efficient carrier for uphill transport of silver as AgBr2-complex ion through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane. When thiosulfate anion was used as a metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase the amounts of silver transported across the liquid membrane after 120 and 180 min were 87.0 +/- 1.8% and 96.0 +/- 1.9%, respectively. The selectivity and efficiency of silver transport from aqueous solution containing Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Fe3+ ions were investigated. In the presence of EDTA at pH = 4 as suitable masking agent in the source phase, the interfering effects of Pb2+ and Fe3+ ions were diminished drastically.     

Novel method for the fast preconcentration and monitoring of a ppt level of lead and copper with a modified hexagonal mesoporous silica compound and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

A novel method for the rapid extraction and determination of a ppt level of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions using partial silylated MCM-41 modified by a new salophen and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is introduced. The preconcentration factor of the method is 500, and the detection limits of Pb2+ and Cu2+ are 335 and 34 ng L(-1), respectively. The time and efficiency of extraction, the pH and flow rate, the type and minimum amount of acid for stripping of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from modified MCM-41 and the break-through volume were investigated. The maximum capacity of 4 mg of silylated MCM-41 modified by salophen used was found to be 150 +/- 4 and 117 +/- 3 microg of Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively.     

Rapid and selective method for the spectrophotometric determination of nickel naphthenate in gasoline in a microemulsion

A new method for the spectrophotometric determination of nickel naphthenate in gasoline in a microemulsion was developed. PAN reacts with nickel(II) forming a red complex with composition 1:2 (metal to ligand) nickel(II)-PAN and absorption maximum at 568 nm. Nickel naphthenate in gasoline can be determined with PAN in a microemulsion, in the pH range 3.0 approximately 10.0 with a molar absorptivity of 4.8x10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). Beer's law was obeyed up to 0.8 mg l(-1) of nickel(II) in the microemulsion system. The interference of Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Mn(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+) can be eliminated by adding 0.5 ml of a mixed masking agent. The method is rapid, simple and highly selective.     

Sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of ruthenium at nanotrace levels using 2-(alpha-pyridyl) thioquinaldinamide [PTQA

A new spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of ruthenium with nonfluorescent 2-(alpha-pyridyl) thioquinaldinamide (PTQA) is described. The oxidative reaction of Ru(III) upon PTQA gives oxidised fluorescent product (lambda(ex(max))=347 nm; lambda(em(max))=486 nm). The sensitivity of the fluorescence reaction between ruthenium and PTQA is greatly increased in the presence of Fe (III). The reaction is carried out in the acidity range 0.01-0.075 M H(2)SO(4). The influence of reaction variables is discussed. The range of linearity is 1-400 microg l(-1) Ru(III). The standard deviation and relative standard deviation of the developed method are +/-1.210 microg l(-1) Ru (III) and 2.4%, respectively (for 11 replicate determinations of 50 microg l(-1) Ru (III)). The effect of interferences from other metal ions, anions and complexing agents was studied; the masking action is discussed. The developed method has been successfully tested over synthetic mixtures of various base metals and platinum group metals, synthetic mixtures corresponding to osmiridium, certified reference materials in spiked conditions and rock samples.     

Method validation for the determination of lead in raw cow's milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, lead in raw cow's milk has been determined by validated electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with Zeeman-effect background correction. Maximum pyrolysis and optimum atomization temperatures of lead were determined in the presence of modifiers. Pd + Mg(NO3)2 has been found a powerful modifier mixture for the determination of lead. The analytical parameters of the method such as limit of detection, limit of quantification and the effect of interfering ions have been investigated. The detection limit (3sigma) achieved by the method was calculated to be 0.62 ng/mL for Pb. Repeatability of the method evaluated as the relative standard deviation of 16-17 replicates using 5 ng/mL, under optimum experimental conditions were about 1.5% for synthetic sample solution and about 3% for real sample (N = 5). The described method has been validated by analyzing certified reference material (BCR-CRM 150) and by comparing the results with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The validated method was applied to raw cow's milk samples produced in 7 different regions of Turkey in 2003-2004. Raw cow's milk contained a mean (range) of 31.4 (2.5 - 313) microg kg(-1) lead with a relative error below 2%.     

Determination of cadmium by flow injection-chemical vapor generation-atomic absorption spectrometry

A method was developed for the generation of a "cold vapor" of cadmium by means of flow injection-chemical vapor generation from aqueous samples, the determination being conducted with an atomic absorption spectrometer (Pyrex glass T-cell). Several gas-liquid separator designs, atomizer designs, and the effect of several reagents previously reported as sensitivity enhancers (including cobalt, nickel, thiourea and didodecyl-dimethylammonium bromide) were investigated. The limit of detection, calculated as the concentration giving a signal equal to three times the standard deviation of the blank, was 16 ng L(-1), and the relative standard deviation was 1.4% for a concentration of 2 microg L(-1) and 3.8% for 0.1 microg L(-1). The addition of nickel and thiourea to the samples provided improved tolerance to the interference of coexisting ions. Two NIST certified reference materials, Montana Soil and Apple Leaves (respectively containing 41.7+/-0.25 mg kg(-1) Cd and 0.013+/-0.002 mg kg(-1) Cd) were accurately analyzed. The interference of lead was overcome by coprecipitation with barium sulfate, and the experimental values obtained were 41+/-1 mg kg(-1) Cd and 0.013+/-0.002 mg kg(-1) Cd, respectively.     

Spectrophotometric determination of chromium in waste water and soil

The reaction of Cr(VI) with o-nitrophenylfluorone (NPF) in presence of cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTMAB) to form a purplish red complex at pH 4.7-6.6 by heating at 50 degrees for 10 min has been investigated. The composition of the complex is 1:2:2 [Cr(VI):NPF:CTMAB], the wavelength of maximum absorbance is 582 nm. The molar absorptivity is 1.11 x 10(5)1.mole(-1).cm(-1). Beer's law is obeyed up to 0.2 microg ml Cr(VI) concentration. The interference of several ions, including Cu(2+), Fe(3+) and Al(3+), is eliminated by addition of a masking mixture containing KF, DCTA and tartrate. A new sensitive method for determination of chromium in waste water and soil is presented.     

Determination of thallium in bismuth by differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry without preliminary separation

The determination of trace levels of thallium in bismuth and bismuth salts by differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry has been made possible by using a surfactant as an electrochemical masking agent, in addition to a complexing agent. In 0.2M EDTA at pH 4.5 as supporting electrolyte in the absence of surfactant, bismuth at concentrations below 10(-4)M does not interfere. When the electrolyte also contains tetrabutylammonium ions at 0.01 M concentration, bismuth can be tolerated at concentrations up 0.05M, and the height of the thallium peak is unaffected. It is thus possible to determine 1 nM Tl(I) in the presence of 0.05M Bi(III), i.e., Tl at the 1 x 10(-6)% level in bismuth. The precision of the determination and the recovery are satisfactory. Neither an 800-fold ratio of Cu(II) nor a 10(7)-fold ratio of Pb(II) to Tl(I) interferes in the determination. Other cations such as Zn(2+), Cd(2+), In(3+), Hg(2+), Fe(3+), Sb(3+) and Sn(4+) in 10(4)-fold molar ratio to Tl(I) have no effect on the determination. Thallium has been determined in bismuth metal and in bismuth nitrate of various degrees of purity.     

New masking procedure for selective complexometric determination of copper(II)

A study has been made of a new masking procedure for highly selective complexometric determination of copper(II), based on decomposition of the copper-EDTA complex at pH 5-6. Among the various combinations of masking agents tried, ternary masking mixtures comprising a main complexing agent (thiourea), a reducing agent (ascorbic acid) and an auxiliary complexing agent (thiosemicarbazide or a small amount of 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-dipyridyl) have been found most suitable. An excess of EDTA is added and the surplus EDTA is back-titrated with lead (or zinc) nitrate with Xylenol Orange as indicator (pH 5-6). A masking mixture is then added to decompose the copper-EDTA complex and the liberated EDTA is again back-titrated with lead (or zinc) nitrate. The following cations do not interfere: Ag(+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+), Ni(2+), Bi(3+), As(3+), Al(3+), Sb(3+), Sn(4+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cr(3+) and moderate amounts of Fe(3+) and Mn(2+). The notable feature is that consecutive determination of Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) can be conveniently carried out in the presence of other cations.     

Spectrophotometric method for the determination of manganese with phenylfluorone in the presence of Triton X-100 and cetylpyridinium chloride in pharmacological preparations and vegetable fertilizers

A simple and very sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of manganese in pharmacological preparations and vegetable fertilizers is proposed. The method is based on the formation of a blue coloured complex of Mn (II) with 9-phenyl-2,3,7-trihydroxy-6-fluorone (PF) in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride (CP) and Triton X-100. Optimum concentrations of PF, CP, Triton X-100 and pH ensuring maximum absorbance were defined. The complex Mn(II)-PF-CP-Triton X-100 shows maximum absorbance at 591 nm with the molar absorptivity value 1.77x10(5 )L mol(-1 )cm(-1). The detection limit of the method is 0.004 microg mL(-1). The Beer's law is obeyed for manganese concentrations in the range 0.02-0.2 microg mL(-1). The effect of foreign ions was elucidated. The statistical evaluation of the method was carried out for six determination using 5 microg Mn and the following results were obtained: standard deviation 0.021, confidence interval 5.05+/-0.05 microg Mn. The method has been applied for the determination of manganese in pharmacological preparations (Biovital, Kinder Biovital) and vegetable fertilizers (Hydrovit 100, Florovit).