Application of the photoionization detector for the determination of ethanol in aqueous solutions and human breath

A determination of ethanol is described, which is based on a purging system in conjunction with a photoionization detector. With that system a fast and reliable determination of ethanol in aqueous solutions is possible. The system has been used for the analysis of wine. The 3delta-detection limit has been 0.005% ethanol, the relative standard deviation 4.8 to 6.0% and the time constant of the entire analytical system 20 s. The photoionization detector has been also applied to the analysis of artificial and genuine human breath. A comparison with gas-chromatography and non-dispersive IR-detection has been proven the reliability of results.     

Application of the photoionization detector for single determinations of hydride forming elements

The application of a photoionization detector in conjunction with a flow-through system is described for the determination of arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, tin, sulfide and ammonia. The analytical procedure is based upon a preliminary generation of the hydride compounds, their subsequent transfer to the gas phase and finally their detection in the photoionization detector. Linear calibration curves were obtained over three to four orders of magnitude with the following 3s-detection limits: 4 ng/ml As, 0.3 ng/ml Sb, 0.5 ng/ml Se, 3.0 ng/ml Te, 0.1 g/ml Bi, 0.5 g/ml Sn, 10.0 ng/ml S^2–, 0.5 g/ml NH₃.     

Operating the pulsed discharged detector in both the electron-capture and photoionization modes within the same GC analysis

Summary Since the electron-capture detector (ECD) is highly selective, it is imperative to use a more universal ionization detector in conjunction with the ECD in order to detect non-capturing or weakly capturing compounds. Also in an EC study of weakly or moderately strong electron-capturing compounds, it is necessary to identify the EC peak of the compound by identifying the major component with an ionization detector. In this paper we have shown that the pulsed discharge detector can be interchanged between the EC and the helium ionization modes within 4–6 s. The application of this procedure has been illustrated with a mixture of alkane/alkene chlorocompounds. The interchange between EC and argon photoionization modes has also been investigated. The change from EC to argon photoionization also occurs in 4–6 s but the reverse process requires 9 s.     

Laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system using an optical parametric oscillator for tunable detection in microchip analysis

A laser-induced fluorescence microscopic system based on optical parametric oscillation has been constructed as a tunable detector for microchip analysis. The detection limit of sulforhodamine B (Ex. 520 nm, Em. 570 nm) was 0.2 mol, which was approximately eight orders of magnitude better than with a conventional fluorophotometer. The system was applied to the determination of fluorescence-labeled DNA (Ex. 494 nm, Em. 519 nm) in a microchannel and the detection limit reached a single molecule. These results showed the feasibility of this system as a highly sensitive and tunable fluorescence detector for microchip analysis.     

Trace analysis of vinclozoline by gas chromatography with electrolytic conductivity detection and solid-phase extraction

A procedure for the analysis of vinclozoline in tap and surface water by GC and Hall detector has been developed. Each step — the analysis of vinclozoline in acetone standard solution, in deionized water and in tap water after solid-phase extraction — was checked by statistical tests (variance homogeneity, linearity test, residue analysis, runaway tests, F-test, t-test). The detection limits and determination limits were calculated from the calibration curve and its prediction interval (according to the DFG). The detection limit for vinclozoline in tap water was found to be 0.03 g/l and the determination limit is 0.06 g/l by a recovery rate of 89%.     

Basic experimental studies on the operation of photoionization detectors

Commercially available and self-made photoionization detectors have been studied in a simple flow manifold without chromatographic column. The self-made detector allowed the independent variation of the detector volume, the electrode surface area and a selective irradiation of the anodes and cathodes. The photoionization of ethanol and acetone has been measured in hydrogen as carrier gas. All experimental results were consistent with a model based upon a photoionization proceeding in the adsorption layer of the electrodes as the main signal generating process. It has been shown that the photoionization of molecules in the gas phase plays only a marginal role. Received: 11 November 1997 / Revised: 12 December 1997 / Accepted: 10 January 1998     

Monitoring inorganic mercury and methylmercury species with liquid chromatography-piezoelectric detection

A piezoelectric detection system coupled with a liquid chromatographic system is developed for the speciation of inorganic mercury(II) and methylmercury. Piezoelectric detection has been demonstrated to be a very sensitive detection system for total mercury determination when a gold-coated piezoelectric quartz crystal was used. The analytical features of this detection unit make it very suitable to be used as a detector coupled with a liquid chromatographic system for monitoring mercury species. After separation by a chromatography column (Spherisorb ODS-2, 5 μm,  mm i.d.), mercury species are liberated and reduced, by using stannous chloride, and are detected as an amalgam on the gold-coated piezoelectric quartz crystal, the sensor subsequently was regenerated by passing a peroxydisulfate solution. This detector exhibits good sensitivity, it allows the determination of mercury at sub-ppb concentration levels (0.30-1.20 μg l⁻¹). The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was ±2.7% (n=11) for a 0.5 μg l⁻¹ total mercury concentration. The proposed method is free of interferences and it allowed the determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury species in natural waters.     

Simultaneous kinetic determination of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl based on differential degradation processes in alkaline oxidative medium

A kinetic method for the simultaneous determination of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl is described. The method is based on the degradation of these compounds in alkaline hydrogen peroxide medium by measuring the absorbance at two different reaction times and at two different wavelengths. A homemade stopped-flow system coupled with a diode-array detector and the proportional equation method was used. Resolution was achieved over chlorpyrifos: carbaryl ratios ranging from 61 to 14, with relative errors of 4 and 3%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of a commercial formulation.     

A new photoionization detector for gas chromatography

Summary A new photoionization detector for gas chromatography is discribed. The source of vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) radiation is separated from the ionization chamber by a window and thus the ionization chamber may be run at atmospheric pressure using an intense source of ionizing radiation. The operation consequently is improved and considerably simplified. Except for a ten times reduction in linearity, the performance characteristics of the detector are comparable to those of the flame ionization detector. Filtration of the VUV radiation allows the selectivity to be varied without affecting the dynamic properties of the detector.Z. ternberg, N. Ostoji, Yug. Pat. Appl.     

2,6-Bis[(o-hydroxy)phenyliminomethyl]-1-hydroxybenzene as a reagent for the selective spectrofluorimetric determination of aluminium

A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of aluminium at ng/ml level has been developed. The method is based on the formation of a fluorescent 11 complex between Al(III) and 2,6-bis[(o-hydroxy)phenyliminomethyl]-1-hydroxybenzene at an apparent pH of 5.0 in an aqueous-ethanol medium (70% v/v ethanol). The influence of reaction variables is discussed. The range of concentration of the method is 1.0–10.0 ng/ml aluminium, the relative standard deviation 1.5% and the limit of detection 0.1 ng/ml. The advantages of the proposed method include high sensitivity and selectivity. The method has been applied to the determination of aluminium in natural waters.     

Uses of PGAA at the Dalat reactor

A facility for neutron capture prompt -ray spectroscopy for activation analysis has been intstalled at the tangential beam tube of the 500 kW Dalat reactor. Using a single crystal of silicon for filtering the thermal neutron beam and the 73 cm³ HP-G detector shielded by common materials with flexible configurations suitable to various samples, LOD of nearly 30 elements were estimated. Applications of PGAA in the determination of elemental concentrations in biological, environmental, geological and industrial product samples are presented.     

Bulk acoustic wave sensor for the ion chromatographic determination of copper in human plasma

By using ion chromatography with series bulk acoustic wave detection, a method for the determination of copper in human blood plasma has been developed. The advantages of the good selectivity of ion chromatography and the highly sensitive response of SBAW have been combined to improve detection limit, accuracy and reproducibility. The detection limit (3) of the method to copper is 0.3 g/ml. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 1.0 g/ml of copper is 2.1% (n=7). For the IC analysis, the analytical column is a Shim-pack IC C1 column, and the mobile phase is 4.0 mM tartaric acid/2.0 mM ethylenediamine solution with pH 4.2. This system has been applied to the determination of Cu in blood plasma from healthy people or patients with renal failure.     

Multi-residue procedure for the analysis of pesticides in groundwater: Application to samples from the comunidad Valenciana,Spain

Summary A simple multi-residue procedure has been developed and applied to the analysis of pesticides in groundwater samples from the Comunidad Valenciana, a predominantly agricultural area on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The procedure includes a liquid-liquid extraction, after addition of NaCl on the samples, and a subsequent analysis by capillary gas chromatography using a dual detection system with electron capture and nitrogen-phosphorous detectors. This allows the determination of more than 30 compounds (organophosphorous, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides) at the low ppb (g l^–1) levels. Detection limits obtained varied between 0.01 g l^–1 (lindane, fonofos) and 0.5 g l^–1 (cypermethrin). An additional injection of the sample extracts into a gas chromatograph equipped with a column of different polarity and electron capture detector is used for the confirmation of chromatographic peaks. The recommended procedure has been applied to 66 ground water samples. Pesticides, including organophosphorus and organochlorine compounds were detected in 31 of them, in levels ranging from 0.02 to 0.7 g l^–1.     

Studies on the Determination of Mercury by On-line Solvent Extraction and Non-Aqueous Media Hydride Generation Non-Dispersive Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

A new method for on-line solvent extraction covalent hydride generation in a non-aqueous extraction phase is proposed. Both liquid–liquid extraction and gas–liquid separation steps are accomplished in an online mode and with AFS as detector. Hydride generation is carried out in an aliquot of metal-complex extraction solution by sodium tetrahydroborate in N,N-dimethylformamide solution and anhydrous acetic acid. An improved U-type gas–liquid separator was used. The working conditions and manifolds scheme of flow injection were optimized. The detection limit attained for mercury was 20ngL^–1. The precision of the determination at a concentration level of around 20 times the detection limit was 5.6%. The proposed method gives improved sensitivity and eliminates interference. The method has been applied to the determination of mercury in certified reference materials with good accuracy and precision.     

Uranium and thorium determination in Brazilian coals by epithermal neutron activation analysis

An experimental technique has been developed to determine impurities in coal. Uranium was determined by counting the²³⁹Np 106.1 keV -ray with a LEPS detector and thorium by counting the²³³Pa 311.8 keV -ray with a Ge(Li) detector. Seventeen coal samples were analyzed with an average precision of 3% and a quantitative determination limit of 0.153 g/g for uranium and 0.078 g/g for thorium. The technique allows determinations of up to twenty elements besides U and Th and can be applied in routine analysis.     

Determination of Ta impurities in Nb samples by X-rays in neutron activation analysis

Ta impurities in Nb samples have been determined by X-rays in 14 MeV neutron activation analysis. For X-ray detection, (HP) Ge detector with Be-window is used. The sensitivity of the determination has been found to be about 30 g (in Nb).This work was supported by the National Foundation for Research (Contract No. 259).     

Gas Chromatographic Determination of Sulfur Mustard and Lewisite in Community Air

A gas chromatographic procedure is developed for the determination of ,-dichlorodiethylsulfide (yperite, sulfur mustard) and -chlorovinyldichloroarsine (lewisite) in the working area and community air at a level defined by the hygienic regulations for community air (2 × 10^–6 and 4 × 10^–6 mg/m³ for sulfur mustard and lewisite, respectively) and at the maximum permissible level for a working area (2 × 10^–4 mg/m³). The procedure for the determination of sulfur mustard is based on the trapping of the analyte from air with Silochrom S-120 impregnated with Apiezon L with further extraction by a 1 : 1 acetone–hexane mixture, the evaporation of the extract to a small residual volume, and chromatography with an electron capture detector. The procedure for the determination of -chlorovinyldichloroarsine (lewisite) involves the absorption of the analyte with a 2.2% solution of triethanolamine in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, the conversion of lewisite to acetylene by treating the trap contents with 30% alkali solution, and the chromatography of the vapor phase using a flame ionization detector. The error of the determination is no more than ±23 rel %. The analysis takes 1.5 h.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of traces of indium with 5-chiorosalicylidene-o-aminophenol

A Spectrofluorimetric method for microdetermination of indium, based on the formation of a fluorescent 21 (ligand:metal) complex between In (III) and 5-chlorosalicylidene-o-aminophenol at an apparent pH of 4.70 in an aqueous-ethanol medium (50% v/v ethanol) is proposed. The calibration graph is linear over the range 10.0–80.0 g/l, the relative standard deviation 2.7% and the detection limit 1.5 g/l. The method has been applied to the determination of indium in synthetic samples and natural waters.     

Passive sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air at environmentally relevant concentration levels

A sensitive and reliable method is described for the determination of aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, o-, m-, p-xylene, trichloromethane, trichloroethane, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene) in indoor and outdoor air at environmental concentration levels. The procedure can be easily extended to other VOCs. Using passive samplers the VOCs have been adsorbed onto charcoal during a four-week sampling period and subsequently desorbed with carbon disulfide. After injection with a cold split-splitless multi-injector the VOCs have been separated by capillary gas chromatography. Quantification has been achieved using an electron capture detector (ECD) and a flame ionization detector (FID) switched in series. A limit of about 1 g/m³ for aromatic hydrocarbons and of about 0.01 g/m³ for chlorinated hydrocarbons has been obtained. The procedure has been successfully applied in the framework of a field study to measure indoor and outdoor air concentrations in Essen and Borken, two differently polluted areas of Northrhine-Westphalia.     

Thermal neutron activation analysis of Cu in its ores by using an241Am−Be neutron source

A thermal neutron activation method has been developed for the determination of Cu in Cu–Pb–Zn ores and chalcopyrite ore concentrates using the reaction⁶³Cu(N, )⁶⁴Cu. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons from an²⁴¹Am–Be neutron source and the annihilation -radiations of 0.511 MeV were counted on 3×3 NaI(T1) detector coupled with single channel pulse height analyzer. The method is nondestructive, economical and ideal for bulk analysis of ores with 1–16% Cu.