Ionic alkyl-lead,tetra-alkyl-lead and total lead in fish from the Great Lakes

Fillets from a variety of fish species collected from Lakes Ontario, Superior and Erie, Canada, were examined for ionic alkyl-lead, tetra-alkyl-lead and total lead compounds. Diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone)-derivatized extracts were collected at pH 8 and 9 for ionic alkyl-leads from enzymatically hydrolyzed samples. Butylated derivatives were formed prior to analysis by gas chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometry (GC AA). Tetra-alkyl-lead was extracted from the hydrolyzates with hexane. Most of the fillets contained low (<0.08–2 ng g^?1) levels of trimethyl-lead. Several samples contained triethyl-lead or tetraethyl-lead. Dimethyl-lead, diethyl-lead and tetramethyl-lead were detected by GC MS but were below the GC AA method detection limit of 0.06 ng g^?1, 0.09 ng g^?1 and 0.2 ng g^?1 respectively. Total lead levels were between <1.8 and 96.7 ng g^?1.     

Determination of Gold by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Hollow Fiber Liquid Phase Microextraction Using Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

A novel method to preconcentrate gold was developed employing a synergistic enhancement of a room temperature ionic liquid combined with hollow fiber liquid phase micro-extraction with flame atomic absorption spectrometry detection. The method is based on the complexation of gold with dithizone. The formed hydrophobic complex was subsequently extracted into the lumen of a hollow fiber. The organic phase was siphoned into FAAS for the determination. A room temperature ionic liquid and dithizone were used the enhancement reagent and chelating reagent, respectively. The addition of a room temperature ionic liquid led to a five-fold improvement in the extraction of gold. The 1-octanol was immobilized in the pores of the polypropylene hollow fiber as the liquid membrane and was also used as the acceptor solution. Some parameters that influenced extraction and determination were evaluated in detail, such as concentrations of the ionic liquid and dithizone, pH of samples, stirring rates, extraction time, and interferences. Under optimized conditions, a detection limit of 0.9 ng mL^?1 and an enrichment factor of 130 were achieved. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.7% for Au (40 ng mL^?1, n = 5). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of gold in certified reference environmental samples and ore samples with satisfactory results.     

Liquid-phase microextraction with in-drop derivatization combined with microvolume fluorospectrometry for free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde determination in textile samples

A novel approach for preconcentration and speciation analysis of trace amount of mercury from water samples was proposed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Mercury species (Hg²⁺, methylmercury (MeHg⁺) and phenylmercury (PhHg⁺)) were complexed with dithizone (DZ) to form hydrophobic chelates and then extracted into the fine drops of extraction solvent dispersed in the aqueous sample by dispersive solvent. After extraction, the sedimented phase was analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Some important parameters affecting the DLLME such as extraction solvent and dispersive solvent type and volume, concentration of dithizone solution, sample pH, extraction time and salt effect were investigated. Ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM][PF₆]) was found to be a suitable extractant for the chelates. Under the optimized conditions (extraction solvent: 70 μL of ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM][PF₆]); dispersive solvent: 0.75 mL of methanol containing dithizone (0.02%, m/v); pH: 4; extraction time: 5 min; and without salt addition), the limits of detection for Hg²⁺, MeHg⁺ and PhHg⁺ were 0.32, 0.96 and 1.91 μg L⁻¹ (S N⁻¹ = 3) respectively, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was between 4.1 and 7.3% (n = 5). Three real water samples (tap water, river water and lake water) spiked with mercury species were detected by the developed method, and the relative recoveries obtained for Hg²⁺, MeHg⁺ and PhHg⁺ were 89.6–101.3%, 85.6–102.0% and 81.3–97.6%, respectively.     

The analyses of alkyllead compounds in fish and environmental samples in Ontario,Canada (1981–1987)

Analyses of fish and other environmental samples (clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters) from areas upstream and downstream from two alkyllead manufactures beside the St Lawrence and St Clair Rivers, Ontario, show a clear indication of elevated alkyllead levels in samples near the industries. Most species of fish contained alkyllead compounds with tetraethyllead and triethyllead as the predominant forms. Most fish from the contaminated areas contained 50–75% of total lead as alkylleads. Carp, yellow perch and white sucker were generally the most contaminated species while pike, alewife and rock bass were the least contaminated. Average alkyllead levels varied from year to year but declined steadily after 1981. For example, the geometric mean of alkyllead compounds in carp from the St Lawrence River decreased from 4207 μg kg^?1 in 1981 to 2000 μg kg^?1 in 1982 and to 49 μg kg^?1 in 1987, reflecting the reduction of alkylleads in the effluents and the closure of one of the manufactures in 1985. Alkyllead levels were consistently lower in muscle and carcass samples in comparison with whole fish containing fatty intestines. However, muscle levels were generally equal to carcass levels. The concentrations of alkyllead compounds were generally low in clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters except from the immediate vicinity of the manufactures' final effluent discharges.     

Capillary electrophoresis inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry combined with metal tag for ultrasensitively determining trace saxitoxin in seafood

As one of paralytic shellfish toxins, the saxitoxin (STX) in the aqueous environment can be accumulated by most shellfish, and thus harms human health through the food chain. Therefore, it is crucial to determine trace STX in seafood samples in order to ensure the safety of seafood consumption. In this study, we developed a novel indirect method for ultrasensitively determining trace STX in seafood by using CE‐ICP‐MS together with Eu³⁺ chelate labeling. We demonstrated that diethylenetriamine‐N ,N ,N ′,N ″,N ″‐pentaacetic acid (DTPA) can couple with STX and simultaneously chelate with Eu³⁺ to realize metallic labeling of STX, and thus realize the ultrasensitive quantification of trace STX with CE‐ICP‐MS. The proposed method has strong antiinterference ability, good stability, and extremely high sensitivity. It could be used to determine trace STX in seafood samples with an extremely low detection limit of 0.38 fmol (3.8×10⁻⁹ M, 100 nL sample injection) and a relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) <7%. The success of this study provides an alternative to precise quantification of ultra‐trace STX in seafood samples, and further expands the application of ICP‐MS.     

Synthesis and structure of dithizonato complexes of antimony(III), copper(II) and tin(IV)

In view of the important role of dithizone in trace metal analyses, new structural aspects and approaches used to probe metal complexes of dithizone are of interest. Three X-ray diffraction structures are reported, dichloridobis(dithizonato)tin(IV), dichlorido(dithizonato)antimony(III), and bis(dithizonato)copper(II). During synthesis of the tin complex, auto-oxidation of Sn^IICl₂ to Sn^IV occurred without chloride liberation. The Sb^III complex revealed a unique distorted see-saw geometry which is, as for the other complexes, predicted by DFT molecular orbital calculations. The computed products of the lowest energy reactions are in agreement with experimentally obtained reaction products, which, together with molecular orbital renderings serve as a tool toward prediction of modes of coordination in these complexes. The S–M–N bond angle in the five-membered coordination ring shows a linear relationship with the corresponding metal ionic radii.     

双硫腙包覆钛酸锶钡粉体对水中铅的吸附行为

用草酸化学共沉淀法合成了钛酸锶钡(BST)粉体, 以双硫腙为表面修饰剂, 采用静态浸渍法对钛酸锶钡粉体进行表面包覆修饰, 制备出新型固态粉体吸附剂. 利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)和傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)进行了表征. 研究了该吸附剂对水中铅的吸附行为. 结果表明: 双硫腙通过与钛酸锶钡表面羟基形成氢键作用包覆于该粉体上; 当吸附介质pH值大于4时, 该吸附剂对水中的铅有较强的吸附能力; 室温下, 5 min内吸附达到平衡. 其吸附行为符合Langmuir吸附等温模型和HO准二级动力学方程式, 吸附焓变(ΔH)为19.42 kJ•mol^－1, 活化能(E_a)为22.187 kJ•mol^－1, 该吸附过程是吸热的物理过程. 吸附在双硫腙包覆钛酸锶钡粉体上的铅, 可用1 mol•L^－1的硝酸溶液进行洗脱. 建立了吸附富集、火焰原子吸收法测定水中铅的新方法, 应用于地表水和自来水中铅的测定, 取得了令人满意的结果.     

Hydrolysis of Protactinium(V). I. Equilibrium Constants at 25°C: A Solvent Extraction Study with TTA in the Aqueous System Pa(V)/H2O/H+/Na+/ClO4 −

The hydrolysis of protactinium(V) was studied at tracer scale (ca. 10^–12 M) with the solvent extraction method involving the aqueous system: Pa(V)/H₂O/H⁺/Na⁺/ClO₄ ^– at 25.0°C for three values of ionic strength. Extraction experiments were conducted using the chelating agent thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) in toluene. Hydrolysis constants are reported for each ionic strength investigated. An SIT modeling is presented and extrapolated constants to zero ionic strength are derived, as well as interaction coefficients of the two hydrolyzed species involved.     

A novel separation/preconcentration system based on solidification of floating organic drop microextraction for determination of lead by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Solidified floating organic drop microextraction (SFODME) was successfully used as a sample preparation method for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). 20 μL of 1-undecanol containing dithizone as the chelating agent (2 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹) was transferred to the water samples containing lead ions, and the solution was stirred for the prescribed time. The sample vial was cooled in an ice bath for 5 min. The solidified extract was transferred into a conical vial where it melted immediately, and then 10 μL of it was analyzed by GFAAS.Factors that influence the extraction and complex formation, such as pH, concentration of dithizone, extraction time, sample volume, and ionic strength were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, a good relative standard deviation of ±5.4% at 10 ng L⁻¹ and detection limit of 0.9 ng L⁻¹ were obtained. The procedure was applied to tap water, well water, river water and sea water, and accuracy was assessed through the analysis of certified reference water or recovery experiments.     

Determination of Copper in Water by Ionic Liquid Based Microextraction and Chemiluminescence Detection

A versatile, sensitive, and green method based ultrasound-assisted, temperature-controlled, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with an ionic liquid and chemiluminescence detection was used for the determination of copper(II) at the ultra-trace level. After complexation by dithizone, copper(II) was extracted into the ionic liquid. Using high temperature and ultrasonic agitation, the copper complex easily migrated into the ionic liquid phase because of the larger contact area. After back extraction, the determination was performed by chemiluminescence based on the catalyzing effect of copper(II) on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with rhodamine B. Important parameters that affected the extraction efficiency and chemiluminescence intensity were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a limit of detection for copper of 0.8 ng L^?1 was obtained with a linear calibration relationship. The method was applied to analyze environmental water samples for copper(II) with satisfactory results.     

31P Solid state NMR study of structure and chemical stability of dichlorotriphenylphosphorane

Solid state ³¹P NMR spectroscopy was used to examine, monitor and quantify the compound integrity of the chemical reagent dichlorotriphenylphosphorane. Comparison was also made with solution ³¹P NMR spectra which showed that this highly reactive species could be observed in dry benzene prior to conversion to the hydrolyzed product. This is the first reported solid state NMR study of the stability and reactivity of dichlorotriphenylphosphorane and the first account of its observation and comparison in the solution state. In the solid state, the ionic and covalent forms for dichlorotriphenylphosphorane were observed along with hydrolyzed products, however, the degree of hydrolysis was dependent upon the rotor packing conditions. Calculation of the relative percent composition of dichlorotriphenylphosphorane with hydrolyzed product was made for samples prepared in air versus under nitrogen atmosphere. This information was critical in adjusting the amount of reagent used in chemical development syntheses and scale up laboratories. All hydrolyzed products were identified, based upon chemical comparisons with spectra of pure materials. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temperature-controlled ionic liquid-liquid-phase microextraction for the pre-concentration of lead from environmental samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Hydrophobic ionic liquid could be dispersed into infinite droplets under driving of high temperature, and then they can aggregate as big droplets at low temperature. Based on this phenomenon a new liquid-phase microextraction for the pre-concentration of lead was developed. In this experiment, lead was transferred into its complex using dithizone as chelating agent, and then entered into the infinite ionic liquid drops at high temperature. After cooled with ice-water bath and centrifuged, lead complex was enriched in the ionic liquid droplets. Important parameters affected the extraction efficiency had been investigated including the pH of working solution, amount of chelating agent, volume of ionic liquid, extraction time, centrifugation time, and temperature, etc. The results showed that the usually coexisting ions containing in water samples had no obvious negative effect on the recovery of lead. The experimental results indicated that the proposed method had a good linearity (R = 0.9951) from 10 ng mL⁻¹ to 200 ng mL⁻¹. The precision was 4.4% (RSD, n = 6) and the detection limit was 9.5 ng mL⁻¹. This novel method was validated by determination of lead in four real environmental samples for the applicability and the results showed that the proposed method was excellent for the future use and the recoveries were in the range of 94.8-104.1%.     

Pb2＋在液/液界面迁移的电化学研究及其应用

用循环伏安法研究了双硫腙络合推动Pb^2＋在水/乙酰丙酮界面迁移的伏安过程. 实验证明, 该过程是受扩散控制的不可逆过程, Pb^2＋由水相转移到有机相中, 与双硫腙形成络合物Pb(DzH)₂. Pb^2＋的峰电位在－0.3 V处, 并且在5× 10^－6～0.1 mol•L^－1范围内与峰电流成正比. 这一方法为工业废水中铅的在线、现场测定提供了可靠、灵敏的检测方法.     

Investigations on the redox character of dithizone by voltammetric methods : Part I.The reduction of dithizone in aqueous solutions

The mechanism of the electrochemical reduction of dithizone to the corresponding hydrazo compound, diphenylthiocarbazide, has been examined in detail by polarographic and voltammetric techniques over a wide pH range. The reaction is reversible and dithizone can be determined polarographically in the range 10^-3–10^-5M. This polarographic behaviour suggests new applications of dithizone as an electroanalytical reagent.     

Determination of trace elements and radioactive materials by substoichiometric isotope dilution analysis

Substoichiometric isotope dilution analysis has been applied for the determination of trace elements in liquid samples, of carrier content in radioisotope solution and of concentration of organic reagent. Cu in mineral acids and in ZnSe single crystal was determined by the substoichiometric extraction with dithizone. The values of 1.8 and 0.018 ppm in nitric acid and distilled one and of 1.4 and 0.44 ppm in ZnSe were obtained. Cu and P carrier contents in⁶⁴Cu and³²P solutions were determined by the substoichiometric extractions with dithizone in CCl₄ and with molybdic acid into MIBK in the series of the solutions adding various amounts of Cu or P carrier. An analogous method has been applied for the determination of dithizone and diethyldithiocarbamate solutions. The method was also applied for the determination of⁶⁰Co radioactivity in environmental samples. The analytical result of water samples is described.     

Application of a new nanoporous sorbent for extraction and pre-concentration of lead and copper ions

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L^?1 copper (II) and 3–700 μg L^?1 lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L^?1, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g^?1, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.     

Methylmercury determination in biological samples using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after acid leaching extraction

An efficient and sensitive method for the determination of methylmercury in biological samples was developed based on acid leaching extraction of methylmercury into toluene. Methylmercury in the organic phase was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The methylmercury signal was enhanced and the reproducibility increased by formation of certain complexes and addition of Pd-DDC modifier. The complex of methylmercury with DDC produced the optimum analytical signal in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility compared to complexes with dithizone, cysteine, 1,10-phenanthroline, and diethyldithiocarbamate. Method performance was optimized by modifying parameters such as temperature of mineralization, atomization, and gas flow rate. The limit of detection for methylmercury determination was 0.015 μg g⁻¹ and the RSD of the whole procedure was 12% for human teeth samples (n=5) and 15.8% for hair samples (n=5). The method’s accuracy was investigated by using NIES-13 and by spiking the samples with different amounts of methylmercury. The results were in good agreement with the certified values and the recoveries were 88–95%.     

Determination of cadmium and lead in table salt by sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present paper, a simultaneous pre-concentration procedure for the sequential determination of cadmium and lead in table salt samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. This method is based on the liquid-liquid extraction of cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions as dithizone complexes and direct aspiration of the organic phase for the spectrometer. The sequential determination of cadmium and lead is possible using a computer program. The optimization step was performed by a two-level fractional factorial design involving the variables: pH, dithizone mass, shaking time after addition of dithizone and shaking time after addition of solvent. In the studied levels these variables are not significant. The experimental conditions established propose a sample volume of 250 mL and the extraction process using 4.0 mL of methyl isobutyl ketone. This way, the procedure allows determination of cadmium and lead in table salt samples with a pre-concentration factor higher than 80, and detection limits of 0.3 ng g⁻¹ for cadmium and 4.2 ng g⁻¹ for lead. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 10) were 5.6 and 2.6% for cadmium concentration of 2 and 20 ng g⁻¹, respectively, and of 3.2 and 1.1% for lead concentration of 20 and 200 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Recoveries of cadmium and lead in several samples, measured by standard addition technique, proved also that this procedure is not affected by the matrix and can be applied satisfactorily for the determination of cadmium and lead in saline samples. The method was applied for the evaluation of the concentration of cadmium and lead in table salt samples consumed in Salvador City, Bahia, Brazil.     

Thermodynamic Model for the Solubility of TcO2· xH2O(am) in the Aqueous Tc(IV) – Na+ – Cl− – H+ – OH− – H2O System

Solubility studies of TcO₂· xH₂O(am) have been conducted as a function of H⁺ concentration from 1 × 10^{– 5} to 6 M HCl and as a function of chloride concentration from 1 × 10^{– 3} to 5 M NaCl. These experiments were conducted under carefully controlled reducing conditions such that the preponderance of Tc present in solution is in the reduced oxidation state and was determined to be Tc(IV) by XANES analysis. The aqueous species and solid phases were characterized using a combination of techniques including thermodynamic analyses of solubility data, XRD, and XANES, EXAFS, and UV-vis spectroscopies. Chloride was found to significantly affect Tc(IV) concentrations through (1) the formation of Tc(IV) chloro complexes [i.e., TcCl₄(aq) and TcCl₆ ^{2 –}] and a stable compound [data suggests this compound to be TcCl₄(am)] in highly acidic and relatively concentrated chloride solutions, and (2) its interactions with the positively charged hydrolyzed Tc(IV) species in solutions of relatively low acidity and high chloride concentrations. A thermodynamic model was developed that included hitherto unavailable chemical potentials of the Tc(IV)–chloro species and Pitzer ion-interaction parameters for Tc(IV) hydrolyzed species with bulk electrolyte ions used in this study. The thermodynamic model presented in this paper is consistent with the extensive data reported in this study and with the reliable literature data and is applicable to a wide range of H⁺ and Cl^– concentrations and ionic strengths.     

Rapid Determination of DDT and Its Metabolites in Environmental Water Samples with Mixed Ionic Liquids Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Prior to HPLC-UV

In this paper, a novel mixed ionic liquids-dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed for rapid enrichment and determination of environmental pollutants in water samples. In this method, two kinds of ionic liquids, hydrophobic ionic liquid and hydrophilic ionic liquid, were used as extraction solvent and disperser solvent, respectively. DDT and its metabolites were used as model analytes and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector for the analysis. Factors that may affect the extraction recoveries, such as type and volume of extraction solvent (hydrophobic ionic liquid) and disperser solvent (hydrophilic ionic liquid), extraction time, sample pH and ionic strength, were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range was 1–100 μg L⁻¹, limits of detection could reach 0.21–0.49 μg L⁻¹, and relative standard deviation was 6.01–8.48 % (n = 7) for the analytes. Satisfactory results were achieved when the method was applied to analyze the target pollutants in environmental water samples with spiked recoveries over the range of 85.7–106.8 %.