A contribution to the trace analysis of high-purity iron by atomic spectrometry (flame-AAS, furnace-AAS, ICP-OES)

Summary Various possibilities for the determination of trace impurities in high-purity iron by atomic spectrometry were investigated in detail. For Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti and V, flame AAS, furnace AAS and ICP-OES were firstly evaluated in terms of their power of detection. Detection limits in the g/g-range could be achieved by direct determination. For determination in the ng/g-range a removal of iron by a solvent extraction technique prior to the instrumental measurement was required. The power of detection of direct determination, and of combined procedures were compared with regard to routine applicability and a minimization of systematic errors.     

Electrothermal AAS determination of bismuth, antimony and tin in high-purity WO3

Summary Four methods for the bulk trace determination of Bi, Sb and Sn in WO₃ were developed and tested. In all cases, the final determination is carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The limits of detection range from 1 g/g for a very fast and simple method to 50 ng/g for a method comprising a trace-matrix separation by sorption and complexation on activated carbon powder loaded with TMDTC. A way of preparation of standard reference WO₃-samples doped with varying amounts of Bi, Sb and Sn traces is also described.     

Method for the determination of thorium and uranium in urine by ICP-MS

ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) is shown as a very sensitive method for quantitative determination of Th and U concentration and excretion analysis in urine without any sample pretreatment. The current standard method for incorporation monitoring applies alpha-spectrometry, a very tedious and time consuming technique. ICP-MS offers an attractive alternative for monitoring of thorium and uranium body burdens in occupationally exposed subjects and also larger groups of the general population. A limit of determination of 0.5 ng/L in aqueous solutions and 1 ng/L in urine samples for both elements was achieved, with a precision of about ± 10% in the concentration range of appr. 10 ng/L. Due to the lack of a suitable reference material, the accuracy of the method was tested by comparing some of the results with those obtained by -spectrometry, especially for U. There was a sufficient agreement on both results.     

Simultaneous determination of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) with carminic acid by derivative spectrophotometry

The reactions of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) ions with carminic acid have been investigated. These ions react with carminic acid in neutral medium, forming colored complexes. The dark purple or red wine complexes show a high absorption in the visible region (597 nm U(VI) and 616 nm Th(IV)). Chemical variables that affect the reaction have been optimized. The spectral overlapping of the color of complexes has been resolved by first-derivative spectrophotometry. The simultaneous determination of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) mixtures is accomplished by taking the derivative signal (zero crossing) at 597 nm for U(VI) determination and at 616 nm for Th(IV) determination, respectively. The method has been applied to Tyuyamonite ore, containing in the matrix both ions.     

Method for determining airborne diisocyanates

A method has been developed for quantitatively determining 3 typical diisocyanates, viz. 2,4-toluylene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and 4,4-diphenyl-methane diisocyanate (MDI). The technique relies on chemisorption onto a suitable carrier material contained in an absorption tube coated with 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine (2-PP). Stable urea derivatives with high molar absorptivity are formed, desorbed from the carrier material, separated by means of highpressure liquid chromatography and identified. The limits of detection for a sample volume of 20 1 of air are 0.9g m^–3 for 2,4-TDI and HDI, and 0.6g m^–3 for MDI. The derivatives are stable at 4°C for longer than 30 days. The influence of atmospheric humidity and the interference of dibutylamine on the detection reaction were investigated for 2,4-TDI and HDI. The whole procedure is easy to perform, highly sensitive and very reproducible and is suitable for monitoring concentrations of 2,4-TDI, HDI and MDI.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Fresenius on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

Trace/matrix separation of uranium and thorium from molybdenum and tungsten matrix. A batch method for ultratrace bulk analysis

Summary A combined analytical procedure for spectro-photometric determination of uranium and thorium traces in high-purity molybdenum and tungsten matrices using the ion-exchanger cellulose Hyphan (TM of Riedel de Haën AG, FRG) for preconcentration is described. Following their separation (batch mode) uranium and thorium are determined as arsenazo-III complexes. The limits of detection (3) are 3 ng g^–1 U and 20 ng g^–1 Th. The analytical procedures elaborated improve the detection limits for U and Th in molybdenum and tungsten matrices by four and three orders of magnitude, respectively, compared to their determination by ICP-OES or DCP-OES without matrix separation. Accordingly, the procedures are routinely applicable in an industrial laboratory. The capability of this batch method can be validated by measurements of ion beam ratio with the glow discharge mass spectrometer; comparable results are obtained.     

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry of microelectronically relevant heavy metal traces in high-purity cobalt

Summary Because cobalt and its silicides are increasingly used in microelectronic devices, an isotope dilution mass spectrometric (IDMS) method has been developed for trace analysis of relevant heavy metals (U, Th, Fe, Zn, Tl, and Cd) in high-purity cobalt. The measurements of the isotope ratios were carried out with a small thermal ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer by producing positive thermal ions in a single- or double-filament ion source. For the trace/matrix separation and the isolation of the different heavy metals, anion-exchange chromatography and an extraction method for iron were applied. The detection limits obtained were (in ng/g): U=0.007, Th=0.017, Tl=0.06, Cd=1, Zn=8, and Fe=11, which demonstrates that the particularly critical radioactive impurities uranium and thorium could be analysed down to the low pg/g range. Three cobalt samples of different purity were analysed with concentrations ranging from about 0.1 ng/g for U and Th in an ultra high-purity material produced for microelectronic purposes, up to about 70 g/g for Cd in a cobalt sample with declared purity of 99.8%. Because IDMS usually results in accurate analytical results, it can be used in the future for calibration of other methods like glow discharge mass spectrometry, as could be shown by analysing one cobalt sample by both methods. IDMS can also be applied for the production of urgently needed certified standard reference materials in this important field of high technology.Presented at the ANAKON '93 conference     

Determination of sub-PPB contents of uranium and thorium in high-purity aluminium by RNAA

Aluminium samples, irradiated in a reactor, are dissolved in nitric acid²³³Pa and²³⁹Np are adsorbed on an anion exchange column and then separately eluted. The neptunium fraction is very pure and can be counted in a liquid scintillation counter with 100% efficiency. From the other fraction protactinium is extracted by trioctylphosphine oxide and measured by -ray spectrometry. With samples of 3 g, a thermal flux of 3·10¹³ n cm^–2s^–1 and an irradiation time of 24 hours detection limits are 0.0005 ng/g for U and 0.01 ng/g for Th.     

Ultratrace analysis of uranium and thorium in glass

It is today a most common phenomenon that ultratrace analyses for quality control have to be carried out in industrial laboratories far from optimum conditions and in spite of the lack of best suited equipment. It was against this setting that the development of a method for the photometric determination of uranium- and thorium-traces in glasses with arsenazo III was envisaged. The method basically consists of a digestion with HF/HClO₄/H₃BO₃, an extractive preseparation of interfering Ti- and Zr-traces with TTFA/hexanol/CCl₄, an extractive separation of U- and Th-traces with TTFA/TBP/toluene and a final determination of thorium alone (in the presence of photometrically inactive U(VI)) and the sum of Th+U(IV) with arsenazo III.The concentration of uranium is calculated from the difference of the sum of both traces minus the thorium content. Uranium can be determined with nearly the same sensitivity as thorium after reduction to uranium(IV). The most suitable reducing agent for uranium(VI) to uranium(IV) is a mixture of Na₂S₂O₄/CH₂O. An optimization of the arsenazo III concentration for the determination of thorium and uranium yielded an optimal concentration of 80 mg/L arsenazo III: For the reduction of uranium concentrations of 2 g/L of Na₂S₂O₄ and 3.2 g/L CH₂O proved to be optimal. Interferences of this photometric end determination by titanium, zirconium and scandium were investigated quantitatively. The permissible excess for these elements was found to be so low that a trace-trace separation method proved to be necessary. Separation methods were checked for the separation of the matrix components of the investigated glasses from thorium and uranium. One of these methods was suitable after optimization: thorium and uranium are extracted with TTFA/TBP/toluene from a solution containing hydrochloric acid. Back-extraction is carried out with HCl/KMnO₄. For the separation of titanium- and zirconium-cotraces an extra separation method had to be developed: they are extracted with TTFA/hexanol/CCl₄ before the separation of uranium- and thorium-traces from the matrix. The glasses were digested with HF/HX. Fluoride from the hydrofluoric acid is incompletely removed by evaporation and interferes with the extraction of uranium and thorium due to complex formation. Depending on the digestion variant used 162 to 0.23 mg F^– remain in the residue of the digestion of a 5 g sample. This interference was eliminated by a digestion with HF/HClO₄/H₃BO₃ and masking of residual fluoride with AlCl₃.Abbreviations used Arsenazo III 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulphonic acid-2,7-bis [(azo-2)-phenylarsonic acid] - Arsenazo I 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulphonic acid-2-[(azo-2)-phenylarsonic acid] - BPAP 2- (5-Bromo-2-pyridy] azo)-5-diethylaminophenol - EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - HX Designation for a high boiling mineral acid - FAAS Flame atomic absorption spectrometry - FOD 1,1,1,2,3,3,-Heptafluor-7, dimethyl-4,6-octanedione - GFAAS Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry - ICP-MS Inductively coupled plasma — mass spectrometry - ICP-OES Inductively coupled plasma — optical emission spectrometry - LAS Liquid absorption spectrophotometry (classical photometry) - m(Th) Mass of thorium - NAA Neutron activation analysis - pK_Diss Negative logarithm to the base 10 of the dissociation constant of a complex - TBP Tri-(n-butyl)-phosphate - TOPO Tri(n-octyl)-phosphinoxide - TTFA 1-(2-Thenoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetone     

Determination of environmental caused chlorophenol levels in urine of the general population

Summary A sensitive, specific and analytically reliable method for the determination of mono-, di-, tri- and tetrachlorophenols in human urine has been elaborated. After acid hydrolysis and a simultaneous steam distillation of the urine samples, spiked with an internal standard, the chromatographically concentrated chlorophenols have been derivatized with pentafluorobenzoylchloride and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The detection limits for the chlorophenols ranged from 0.2 to 2.5 g/l. Using this method we were able to detect 4-MCP, 2,4-+2,5-DCP, 2,4,6-TCP, 2,4,5-TCP and 2,3,4,6-+2,3,5,6-TeCP in urine samples of a group of 258 men and women which had no known occupational contact to hazardous chemical substances. The 95 percentiles for the concentrations of these substances in the urine samples under investigation were 7.5 (4-MCP); 33.6(2,4-+2,5-DCP); 4,7 (2,4,6-TCP); 4,5 (2,4,5-TCP) and 22.2 (2,3,4,6-+2,3,5,6-TeCP) g per liter. That means, that these chlorophenols are constituents of urine of the normal population in concentrations which in part are greater than that of pentachlorophenol (PCP).     

Quantification of nanodiamonds in aqueous solutions by spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry

Spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry were used to study solutions of several commercial detonation nanodiamonds. It was found that the absorption spectra of solutions of all studied nanodiamond samples obey the Bouger-Lambert-Beer law, which ensures the precise determination of the total mass concentration of unknown nanodiamond solutions using a calibration plot. It was shown that the absorption spectra of nanodiamond solutions exhibit both absorption and scattering components, both significantly affecting signal formation. Conditions were proposed for the spectrophotometric determination of nanodiamonds at 250 nm (l = 1.0 cm). The detection limits were from 60 ng/mL to 2 ??g/mL, depending on the nanodiamond type. Limits of detection of SDND nanodiamonds by spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry were calculated for identical conditions of sample preparation and measurements (488 nm, l = 1.0 cm). These were 10 and 0.6 ??g/mL for spectrophotometry and thermal lens spectrometry, respectively (power of excitation radiation 150 mW).     

Determination of thorium in the range of low concentrations

Summary Methods for the determination of Th in the range of low concentrations are compiled and discussed. Application of spectrophotometry and voltammetry is investigated. Spectrophotometry is applicable down to concentrations of the order of 0.1 g/l as long as the ratio U:Th is low. Voltammetric determination of Th is not possible in the presence of Al.     

Determination of trace elements in seawater by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with and without a preconcentration step

The determination of the trace metals Cd, Pb and Cu in seawater by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETA-AAS) has been investigated. A combination of the platform with mixed palladium nitrate-magnesium nitrate as matrix modifier and Zeeman background correction allows Cd an Pb to be determined by aqueous standard calibration in appropriately diluted seawater samples. Copper can be determined in undiluted seawater samples without chemical modification using a standard additions method. Detection limits (3) of 2.97,5.27 and 1.1 gl^–1 are obtained for Cd, Pb and Cu respectively. A Kelex-100 impregnated silica C18 material (Kelex 100-C18) has been tried and has proved to be effective as a column packing for extraction/preconcentration of these metals from seawater. Using the column extraction method, the sensitivity of the graphite furnace technique is enhanced 50-fold using a 10 l injection volume. Thus, the determination of the studied three metals in seawater at the ng.l^–1 level could be achieved.     

Multi-element trace analysis of tungsten

Investigations carried out in order to determine traces of 25 elements in tungsten in the lower g/g range are reported on. Atomic absorption spectrometry and plasma atomic emission spectrometry as well as solution photometry and activation analysis were the main techniques used.     

Simultaneous determination of chromium(VI) and chromium(III) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with a chelating ion-exchange flow injection system

Summary Simultaneous Determination of Chromium(VI) and Chromium(III) by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Chelating Ion-Exchange Flow Injection System A simple method is described for the simultaneous determination of chromium(VI) and chromium(III) in a flow injection system comprising chelating ion-exchange and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Sampling rates for 2001 and 1 ml sample volumes were 120 and 60 h^–1 (240 and 120 speciations per hour), respectively. Typical relative standard deviations were 0.52% for Cr(VI) (0.50g ml^–1 and 0.67% for Cr(III) (0.10,g ml^–1) and the corresponding limits of detection were 85 ng ml^–1, and 16 ng ml^–1, respectively.On leave from University of Belgrade.     

Direct and Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of Thorium with 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Isonicotinoyl Hydrazone

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of throium in aqueous medium. The metal ion forms yellow coloured complex with 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (2,4-DHBINH) in the pH range 2.0–8.0. The complex shows an absorption maximum at 390 nm. The absorbance of the complex is maximum at pH 5.5 Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.30–7.00 g/ml of thorium(IV). The molar absorptivity and the Sandell's sensitivity of the method are 2.20· 10⁴ l·mol^–1·cm^–1 and 0.0106 g/cm^–2, respectively. The interference of various ions was studied. The composition of the complex is 1:1 {Th(IV) : 2,4-DHBINH}. The first derivative spectrum of the complex shows a zero cross at 391.2 nm and maximum amplitude at 415 nm. Thus a sensitive derivative spectrophotometric method for the determination of Th(IV) is proposed.     

Ultra-trace analysis of U,Th, Ca and selected heavy metals in high purity refractory metals with isotope dilution mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of trace impurities (U, Th, Ca, Fe, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Cd) in the refractory metals molybdenum and tungsten with isotope dilution mass Spectrometry (IDMS) has been developed. This method enables determinations of uranium and thorium down to the lowest pg/g level with high precision and accuracy. Selective chromatographic, extractive and electrolytic methods for the trace-matrix separation were combined with positive thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Different samples of high purity (4N) and of ultra high purity (UHP) materials for advanced technologies were analysed. The detection limits reached are (in ng/g): U 0.006, Th 0.008, Ca 10, Fe 19, Cr 0.5, Ni 0.6, Cu 2.7, and Cd 0.12. A comparison of results with other sensitive analytical methods (ICP-MS, GDMS, SIMS) makes obvious the urgent necessity of a reliable calibration method like IDMS because the analytical results obtained by the other methods often spread over a wide range.     

Determination of osmium in waste water by graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of osmium in waste water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with a graphite furnace atomiser has been investigated. The atomisation characteristics of osmium on the atomiser were found to result in optimal ashing and atomisation temperatures of 300–500 and 3180 °C, respectively.The characteristic mass (the mass of element giving 0.0044 abs.) of osmium after optimization was found to be 1.6ng, which is better than obtained with flame AAS and ultraviolet/visible (UV) absorption spectrophotometry. The detection limit (s/n = 3) was 3.6ng (or 0.36 (g ml^–1). The relative std. deviation obtained with graphite furnace AAS was 3.0%.The interference caused by large amounts of common cations and anions in waste water were evaluated and thiourea as matrix modifier was shown to be able to eliminate many interferences. The recovery of osmium spiked in waste water was considered almost satisfactory at the 1–50 g ml^–1 range and the results were shown to well agree with the analytical values obtained by UV absorption spectrophotometry.     

Spurenbestimmung von organisch gebundenem Schwefel und Chlor in kleinen Probenmengen

Summary A rather simple device is described for mineralizing organic liquids for the determination of sulfur, chlorine, and other halogenides. The detection of the mineralization products of these elements, e.g. chloric acid or sulfuric acid, is done by ion chromatography with high-sensitive suppressor technique. For the determination in the g/g-range samples of 0.1 to 1 ml are required. Detection limits are lower than 1 g/g.