Dynamic fractionation of trace metals in soil and sediment samples using rotating coiled column extraction and sequential injection microcolumn extraction: A comparative study

Dynamic fractionation has been recognized as an appealing alternative to conventional equilibrium-based sequential extraction procedures (SEPs) for partitioning of trace elements (TE) in environmental solid samples. This paper reports the first attempt for harmonization of flow-through dynamic fractionation using two novel methods, the so-called sequential injection microcolumn (SIMC) extraction and rotating coiled column (RCC) extraction. In SIMC extraction, a column packed with the solid sample is clustered in a sequential injection system, while in RCC, the particulate matter is retained under the action of centrifugal forces. In both methods, the leachants are continuously pumped through the solid substrates by the use of either peristaltic or syringe pumps.A five-step SEP was selected for partitioning of Cu, Pb and Zn in water soluble/exchangeable, acid-soluble, easily reducible, easily oxidizable and moderately reducible fractions from 0.2 to 0.5 g samples at an extractant flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹ prior to leachate analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry.Similarities and discrepancies between both dynamic approaches were ascertained by fractionation of TE in certified reference materials, namely, SRM 2711 Montana Soil and GBW 07311 sediment, and two real soil samples as well. Notwithstanding the different extraction conditions set by both methods, similar trends of metal distribution were in generally found. The most critical parameters for reliable assessment of mobilisable pools of TE in worse-case scenarios are the size-distribution of sample particles, the density of particles, the content of organic matter and the concentration of major elements. For reference materials and a soil rich in organic matter, the extraction in RCC results in slightly higher recoveries of environmentally relevant fractions of TE, whereas SIMC leaching is more effective for calcareous soils.     

On-line coupling of flow injection sequential extraction to hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry for fractionation of arsenic in soils

A new flow injection on-line sequential extraction procedure coupled with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) was developed for rapid and automatic fractionation of arsenic in soils. The developed methodology involved a three-step sequential extraction procedure with deionized water, KOH solution, and HCl solution. 25 mg of the soil sample packed into a microcolumn (4 mm i.d. × 3 cm long) was dynamically extracted by continuously pumping each individual extractant through the column. The extracted arsenic solution was merged with 4% (m/v) K₂S₂O₈ solution for on-line oxidation of all arsenic species into As^V. The total extracted arsenic was on-line detected by HG-AFS, and quantitated using an on-line standard addition calibration strategy. The total time for the three-step sequential extraction and on-line detection lasted only 10 min. The developed methodology offers several advantages over conventional batch sequential extraction protocols, including minimization of readsorption/redistribution problem, improvement of accuracy, high speed, less amounts of sample/reagents required, less risk of contamination and analyte loss. The developed methodology was successfully applied to the fractionation of arsenic in certified soil reference materials.     

Critical evaluation of novel dynamic flow-through methods for automatic sequential BCR extraction of trace metals in fly ash

Two novel dynamic extraction approaches, the so-called sequential injection microcolumn extraction and sequential injection stirred-flow chamber extraction, based on the implementation of a sample-containing container as an external extraction reactor in a sequential injection network, are for the first time, optimized and critically appraised for fractionation assays. The three steps of the original Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction scheme have been performed in both automated dynamic fractionation systems to evaluate the extractability of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in a standard reference material of coal fly ash (NIST 1633b). In order to find the experimental conditions with the greatest influence on metal leachability in dynamic BCR fractionation, a full-factorial design was applied, in which the solid sample weight (100–500 mg) and the extraction flow rate (3.0–6.0 mL min⁻¹) were selected as experimental factors. Identical cumulative extractabilities were found in both sequential injection (SI)-based methods for most of assayed trace elements regardless of the extraction conditions selected, revealing that both dynamic fractionation systems, as opposed to conventional steady-state BCR extraction, are not operationally defined within the selected range of experimental conditions. Besides, the proposed automated SI assemblies offer a significant saving of operational time with respect to classical BCR test, that is, 3.3 h versus 48 h, for complete fractionation with minimum analyst involvement. Schematic illustration of automatic flow-based setups for dynamic fractionation of trace metals in fly ash

An automatic system for acidity determination based on sequential injection titration and the monosegmented flow approach

An automatic sequential injection system, combining monosegmented flow analysis, sequential injection analysis and sequential injection titration is proposed for acidity determination. The system enables controllable sample dilution and generation of standards of required concentration in a monosegmented sequential injection manner, sequential injection titration of the prepared solutions, data collecting, and handling. It has been tested on spectrophotometric determination of acetic, citric and phosphoric acids with sodium hydroxide used as a titrant and phenolphthalein or thymolphthalein (in the case of phosphoric acid determination) as indicators. Accuracy better than |4.4|% (RE) and repeatability better than 2.9% (RSD) have been obtained. It has been applied to the determination of total acidity in vinegars and various soft drinks. The system provides low sample (less than 0.3 mL) consumption. On average, analysis of a sample takes several minutes.     

顺序注射阻抑动力学光度法测定环境水样中的间苯二酚

在酸性条件下,利用间苯二酚能抑制罗丹明B和溴酸根反应速率的原理,联用顺序注射技术建立了非平衡态快速测定痕量间苯二酚的新方法.优化了顺序注射流路参数、试剂用量,考察了共存物的影响.在最佳条件下,该法测定间苯二酚的线性范围为0.20～3.00 μg/mL,检出限为0.09 μg/mL,每小时可测定40个样.     

Determination of available phosphorus in soils by using a new extraction procedure and a flow injection amperometric system

A new extraction procedure based on an off-line extraction column was proposed for extracting of available phosphorus from soils. The column was fabricated from a plastic syringe fitted at the bottom with a cotton wool and a piece of filter paper to support a soil sample. An aliquot (50 mL) of extracting solution (0.05 M HCl + 0.0125 M H₂SO₄) was used to extract the sample under gravity flow and the eluate was collected in a polyethylene bottle. The extract was then analyzed for phosphorus contents by a simple flow injection amperometric system, employing a set of three-way solenoid valves as an injection valve. The method is based on the electrochemical reduction of 12-molybdophosphate which is produced on-line by the reaction of orthophosphate with acidic molybdate and the electrical current produced was directly proportional to the concentration of phosphate in range of 0.1-10.0 mg L⁻¹ PO₄-P, with a detection limit of 0.02 mg L⁻¹. Relative standard for 11 replicate injections of 5 mg L⁻¹ PO₄-P was 0.5%. A sample through put of 35 h⁻¹ was achieved, with consumption of 14 mg KCl, 10 mg ammonium molybdate and 0.05 mL H₂SO₄ per analysis. The detection system does not suffer from the interferences that are encountered in the photometric method such as colored substances, colloids, metal ions, silicate and refractive index effect (Schlieren effect). The results obtained by the column extraction procedure were well correlated with those obtained by the steady-state extraction procedure, but showed slightly higher extraction efficiency.     

On-line monitoring of glucose and penicillin by sequential injection analysis

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) system has been developed for on-line monitoring of glucose and penicillin during cultivations of the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. The SIA system consists of a peristaltic pump, an injection valve, two piston pumps, two multi-position valves and a detector. The glucose analyzer is based on an enzymatic reaction using glucose oxidase, which converts glucose to glucono-lactone with formation of hydrogen peroxide and subsequent detection of H₂O₂ by a chemiluminescence reaction involving luminol. The penicillin analysis is based on formation of penicilloic acid by penicillinase. Penicilloic acid is detected either by a chemiluminescence method or by a decolorization method. In the chemiluminescence method the penicilloic acid is quantified by its quenching effect on the chemiluminescence signal obtained when luminol reacts with iodine. In the decolorization method the penicilloic acid is detected spectrophotometrically by the decrease in the absorbance of an iodine-starch complex.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminum in drinking waters by sequential injection analysis

A selective procedure for the determination of Al³⁺ in drinking and natural waters is proposed. The analytical procedure is based both on the complex formation between Al³⁺ and 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid (HQS) and on a fluorimetric detection of the complex. The reaction was carried out in presence of thioglycolic acid as a masking agent. This procedure has been adapted to a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system. Operative conditions both for batch and SIA procedures were investigated including reagent concentration, volumes, pH and wavelengths used for the fluorimetric detection. Batch procedure allows determination of Al³⁺ at ppb level (LOQ: 2.8 μg l⁻¹) within a working range of 2.2-300 μg l⁻¹. The SIA procedure was successfully employed for the determination of Al³⁺ in several commercial drinking and tap waters.     

Mercury and trace element fractionation in Almaden soils by application of different sequential extraction procedures

A comparative evaluation of the mercury distribution in a soil sample from Almaden (Spain) has been performed by applying three different sequential extraction procedures, namely, modified BCR (three steps in sequence), Di Giulio–Ryan (four steps in sequence), and a specific SEP developed at CIEMAT (six steps in sequence). There were important differences in the mercury extraction results obtained by the three procedures according to the reagents applied and the sequence of their application. These findings highlight the difficulty of setting a universal SEP to obtain information on metal fractions of different mobility for any soil sample, as well as the requirement for knowledge about the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of the samples. The specific six-step CIEMAT sequential extraction procedure was applied to a soil profile (Ap, Ah, Bt1, and Bt2 horizons). The distribution of mercury and major, minor, and trace elements in the different fractions were determined. The results indicate that mercury is mainly released with 6 M HCl. The strong association of mercury with crystalline iron oxyhydroxides, present in all the horizons of the profile, and/or the solubility of some mercury compounds in such acid can explain this fact. Minor mercury is found in the fraction assigned to oxidizable matter and in the final insoluble residue (cinnabar).     

At-line determination of formaldehyde in bioprocesses by sequential injection analysis

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) method for the at-line determination of formaldehyde in a cultivation process of Pichia pastoris is presented. A genetically modified yeast strain was used for cultivation processes wherein methanol feed induced the production of the recombinant protein 1-3del I-TAC. Recurring measurements of culture medium, its blank and including standard addition were performed with Nash reagent using an automated syringe device and photometric detection. The apparatus was coupled via a laboratory-made flow-through adapter to a continuous filtered and cell-medium flow from the bioreactor. At-line monitoring of formaldehyde was performed at two cultivations, each of 250 h during fed-batch phases with glycerol and methanol as carbon sources. High reliability, robustness and reproducibility of the method, the software and the instrumentation as well as the high selectivity of the reaction were demonstrated.     

Using sequential injection analysis for fast determination of phosphate in coastal waters

A sequential injection analysis system (SIA) is described which is suited for the fast determination of filterable molybdate reactive phosphate (FRP, 0.2 μm) in coastal waters. It processes up to 270 samples per hour with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.05 μM and is used for surface mapping of phosphate in areas with steep concentration gradients like the Wadden Sea. The determination is based on the reaction of phosphate with acidic molybdate to phosphomolybdate, which builds non-fluorescent ion pairs with rhodamine 6G. The remaining rhodamine fluorescence is detected at 550 nm with an excitation at 470 nm. Syringe pump, valve and detector were controlled by a self made python programme, which was optimised for high speed SIA measurements in monitoring applications.     

Reversed flow injection and sandwich sequential injection methods for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) with cuprizone

Two new flow methods, flow injection analysis (FIA) and sequential injection analysis (SIA), for the spectrophotometric determination of Cu(II) in water at trace levels have been developed and optimised. Both methods are based on the reaction with oxalic acid bis(cyclohexylidene hydrazide) (cuprizone) in alkaline media. The two procedures have been developed for the final aim to compare their performances and to offer new rapid heavy metals analysis tools, avoiding the use of extraction steps. A detailed study of the physico-chemical parameters affecting the systems performances has been carried out. The reversed FIA and sandwich SIA approaches offered the best sensitivity. In both cases, an extremely good linearity has been obtained within the range 0.06-4 μg ml⁻¹ (correlation coefficient r=0.9999), whereas the observed detection limits were 0.013 and 0.004 μg ml⁻¹, for FIA and SIA, respectively. Furthermore, due to the great similarity of the diffusion zones in the reaction slugs, our approach offers the opportunity to compare the two methods in analogous conditions. This SIA method, besides keeping its typical reagent saving features, offered analytical performances equivalent to those of FIA. To obtain these results, an original “stop-flow like” method was successfully employed in the SIA approach. Both methods were validated by analysis of real water samples, after copper addition, and certified reference samples of fortified and waste waters.     

流动注射-分光光度法在线全自动测定正磷酸盐

通过将GB/T6913-2008分光光度法在线化,设计研制了正磷酸盐流动注射自动在线监测仪;优化了显色剂浓度、载流液浓度、采样环长度等实验参数,建立了水中正磷酸盐流动注射全自动在线分析方法,并考察了其实际使用效果.结果表明,当待测水样中PO34浓度在0～15.0 mg/L范围内时,吸光度和浓度呈良好的线性关系,检出限为...     

顺序注射催化动力学光度法测定织物和室内空气中痕量甲醛

在磷酸介质中 ,甲醛可以催化溴酸钾氧化　花青的反应使其退色 ,据此建立了顺序注射催化动力学光度法测定织物和室内空气中痕量甲醛的新方法。方法的线性范围 0 .5～ 7.0 μg mL ,检出限 0 .1 μg mL。用于树脂整理特殊织物和室内空气中痕量甲醛的测定 ,回收率在 97.0 %～ 1 0 5 .0 %之间。     

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.     

Arsenic fractionation in agricultural soil using an automated three-step sequential extraction method coupled to hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A fully automated modified three-step BCR flow-through sequential extraction method was developed for the fractionation of the arsenic (As) content from agricultural soil based on a multi-syringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) system coupled to hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). Critical parameters that affect the performance of the automated system were optimized by exploiting a multivariate approach using a Doehlert design. The validation of the flow-based modified-BCR method was carried out by comparison with the conventional BCR method. Thus, the total As content was determined in the following three fractions: fraction 1 (F1), the acid-soluble or interchangeable fraction; fraction 2 (F2), the reducible fraction; and fraction 3 (F3), the oxidizable fraction. The limits of detection (LOD) were 4.0, 3.4, and 23.6 μg L⁻¹ for F1, F2, and F3, respectively. A wide working concentration range was obtained for the analysis of each fraction, i.e., 0.013–0.800, 0.011–0.900 and 0.079–1.400 mg L⁻¹ for F1, F2, and F3, respectively. The precision of the automated MSFIA–HG-AFS system, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD), was evaluated for a 200 μg L⁻¹ As standard solution, and RSD values between 5 and 8% were achieved for the three BCR fractions. The new modified three-step BCR flow-based sequential extraction method was satisfactorily applied for arsenic fractionation in real agricultural soil samples from an arsenic-contaminated mining zone to evaluate its extractability. The frequency of analysis of the proposed method was eight times higher than that of the conventional BCR method (6 vs 48 h), and the kinetics of lixiviation were established for each fraction.     

On-line coupling of sequential injection extraction with restricted-access materials and post-column derivatization for sample clean-up and determination of propranolol in human plasma

The presented paper deals with a new methodology for direct determination of propranolol in human plasma. The methodology described is based on sequential injection analysis technique (SIA) coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE) column based on restricted access materials (RAM). Special RAM column containing 30 μm polymeric material—N-vinylacetamide copolymer was integrated into the sequential injection manifold. SIA–RAM system was used for selective retention of propranolol, while the plasma matrix components were eluted with two weak organic solutions to waste.

Due to the acid–basic and polarity properties of propranolol molecule and principles of reversed-phase chromatography, it was possible to retain propranolol on the N-vinylacetamide copolymer sorbent (Shodex MSpak PK-2A 30 μm (2 mm × 10 mm)). Centrifuged plasma samples were aspirated into the system and loaded onto the column using acetonitrile–water (5:95, v/v), pH 11.00, adjusted by triethylamine. The analyte was retained on the column while proteins contained in the sample were removed to waste. Interfering endogenous substances complicating detection were washed out by acetonitrile–water (15:85), pH 11.00 in the next step. The extracted analyte was eluted by means of tetrahydrofuran–water (25:75), pH 11.00 to the fluorescence detector (emission filter 385 nm). The whole procedure comprising sample pre-treatment, analyte detection and column reconditioning took about 15 min. The recoveries of propranolol from undiluted plasma were in the range 96.2–97.8% for three concentration levels of analyte. The proposed SIA–RAM method has been applied for direct determination of propranolol in human plasma.     

Comparison of soluble manganese(IV) and acidic potassium permanganate chemiluminescence detection using flow injection and sequential injection analysis for the determination of ascorbic acid in Vitamin C tablets

The limits of detection (3s) for ascorbic acid were 5×10⁻⁸ M with acidic potassium permanganate using both flow injection analysis (FIA) and sequential injection analysis (SIA) whereas the soluble manganese(IV) afforded 1×10⁻⁸ M and 5×10⁻⁹ M for FIA and SIA, respectively. Determinations of ascorbic acid in Vitamin C tablets were achieved with minimal sample pretreatment using a standard additions calibration and gave good agreement with those of iodimetric titration.     

Simple sequential injection analysis system for rapid determination of microalbuminuria

A simple, specific and sensitive sequential injection analysis (SIA) system based on non-immunoassay fluorescent detection has been developed for the determination of urinary albumin. The specific binding of the dye Albumin Blue 580 (AB 580) to albumin in urine generated high emission fluorescent signals. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 590 and 610 nm, respectively. The analytical range was obtained from 1 to 100 mg L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.3 mg L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The SIA system gave high precision with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) of 0.9% and 1.4% when evaluated with 15 and 100 mg L⁻¹ albumin (n = 15), respectively. The method exhibited good reproducibility, as assessed by performing four analytical curves on different days, and intra-run CVs (2.3-3.3%) and inter-run CVs (3.8%) were obtained. Rapid operation was achieved with a sample throughput of 37 h⁻¹. This method was successfully applied to the determination of urinary albumin, and the method was highly correlated with the immunoturbidimetric method (r² = 0.965; n = 72).