Determination of strontium in human tooth enamel by flameless atomic-absorption spectrometry

The determination of strontium in human tooth enamel by flameless atomic-absorption spectrometry was found to be subject to interference from the calcium/phosphate matrix of the enamel. The standard addition method was used to compensate for this interference. Hydrochloric acid and nitric acid did not affect the strontium absorption, but perchloric acid caused a significant reduction in the absorption. The sensitivity of the flameless atomic-absorption enabled 1-mg samples of enamel to be analysed. Hence, the proposed method can be used to determine the distribution of strontium through the tooth. An average recovery of 100.4% for amounts of strontium added to enamel showed that the proposed method was reliable.     

Determination of selenium in human tissues by atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple method is described for the determination of selenium in human tissues without the use of perchloric acid. Digestion with nitric and sulphuric acids is followed by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectrometry. Results for NBS bovine liver and IAEA horse kidney reference materials were in good agreement with assigned concentrations, as was also achieved with the perchloric acid digestion. Recovery of added selenium was >90%, and the relative standard deviation was 5.5% for within-batch and 6.9% for between-batch analyses. The values of selenium in heart tissue were 0.9–1.3 μg g^?1 dry weight.     

Determination of chromium in human serum by electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An accurate and sensitive method for serum chromium determinations by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described. Samples containing a small amount of magnesium nitrate as an ashing aid/matrix modifier are lyophilized and dry-ashed in silanized quartz tubes; the residue is dissolved in 0.1 M HCl. Because of the very low levels of chromium in serum, strict contamination control measures must be used throughout the procedures for collection, storage, preparation and quantitation. Standard curves are prepared by using a bovine serum pool, which also serves as a quality control measure. The uniform nature of sera obviates the need to use the method of standard additions. The detection limit of the method is about 0.03 ng ml^?1 Cr and the accuracy of the method is evaluated by comparison with stable-isotope-dilution mass spectrometry.     

Determination of lithium in human serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An efficient method was developed for the determination of nanogram levels of lithium in biological samples. Serum samples from human subjects from southeastern Spain, treated or not treated with lithium carbonate, were analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were previously treated with a matrix modifier consisting of 0.1% Triton X-100 and injected through a graphite tube with L'vov platform. The Li concentrations measured by the procedure described for the 3 certified reference samples used were not significantly different (p > 0.05) than certified levels. Sample recoveries and variability during several days, with coefficients of variation from 4.00 to 14.8%, demonstrated the reliability and accuracy of this technique. Mean Li concentration determined in the serum of individuals with psychiatric disorders treated with Li (n = 117, 5.077 +/- 1.795 microg Li/mL) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in individuals not treated with Li (n = 24, 1.902 +/- 2.054 ng Li/mL).     

Determination of calcium, magnesium and strontium in soils by flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Several procedures for the determination of Ca, Mg and Sr in soils have been compared on the basis of the accuracy of analysis of two NIST reference materials (Montana Soils SRM 2710 and SRM 2711). Samples were dissolved in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in sealed vessels in a microwave oven and in teflon beakers on a hot plate. The digests obtained from both dissolution methods were evaporated to dryness in an attempt to remove silicon. Boric acid was added to prevent the precipitation of the lanthanum releasing agent (as lanthanum fluoride) and potassium was added as an ionization buffer. Determinations were made by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with both the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame and the air-acetylene flame, with calibration either by standard additions or against external standards matrix matched with respect to nitric acid, boric acid, lanthanum and potassium. The silicon remaining in the solution was also determined by external calibration. A single-line flow injection manifold was used to overcome any problems due to the presence of high dissolved solids. A volume of 300 mul was injected into a water carrier stream flowing at 8 ml min(-1). To determine Ca in the air-acetylene flame, it was necessary to remove silicon. Magnesium was determined in either flame without complete removal of the silicon, however, for the determination of Sr, it was necessary to remove the silicon and use the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. The indicative value for Sr in SRM 2710 was too low: the value determined was 360+/-30 mug g(-1).     

Determination of vanadium in human hair slurries by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

This work describes an analytical procedure for vanadium determination in human hair slurries by electrothermal AAS using longitudinal heating (LHGA) and transversal heating (THGA) graphite furnace atomizers. The samples were powdered using cryogenic grinding and the hair slurries containing 0.2% (m/v) were prepared in three different media for determination of vanadium: 0.14 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃, 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100 and 0.1% (v/v) water soluble tertiary amines (CFA-C, pH 8). The limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), and characteristic masses obtained were 0.28, 0.95 μg L⁻¹ and 35 pg (LHGA) and 0.34, 1.13 μg L⁻¹ and 78 pg (THGA), respectively. The accuracy of the analytical results obtained by the proposed procedure in both equipments was confirmed by a paired t-test at the 95% confidence level and compared with a conventional procedure based on acid digestion.     

Determination of thallium by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The analytical conditions for the determination of thallium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry were studied and optimized using the peak-height mode. The charring-atomization curves for thallium from different atomization surfaces were constructed and the optimum charring and atomization conditions were established. These atomization surfaces included pyrolytic graphite-, tantalum-, zirconium- and tungsten-coated graphite tubes. The effects of different inorganic acids on the absorbance of thallium from different surfaces were studied. Using tungsten carbide-coated tubes, the interference effects due to hydrochloric and perchloric acids were eliminated. The matrix modification technique was also investigated for increasing the maximum permissible charring temperature for thallium. The matrix modifiers used included tungsten, zirconium, nickel and tantalum. The effect of adding these modifiers were studied in the presence of different acids. Tungsten increased the maximum permissible charring temperature from 400 to 1000 °C.     

Determination of chromium in human milk and urine by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Low-temperature ashing and dry ashing at 500°C are compared for the analysis of urine and human milk. Dry ashing gives superior accuracy. The importance of contamination control, background correction and temperature control are stressed. Both urine and human milk contain about 1 ng Cr ml^-1.     

Determination of lithium in wines by atomic absorption spectrometry

Lithium (10–150 ng ml^?1) in wine is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry by direct nebulization and after digestion with mixed acids. The results of methods are similar. Thirty-four wines from various Spanish provinces are analysed.     

Determination of ultrafiltrable zinc in human milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Percentages of non-protein-bound zinc in human milk have been reported by different workers, but ultrafiltration and zinc determination in human milk have not been comprehensively examined. However, zinc contamination and zinc membrane binding have been described for the determination of non-protein-bound zinc in serum. In this work, ultrafiltration was studied in terms of zinc contamination and zinc membrane binding. An MPS-1 micropartition system fitted with a YMT membrane was used. Zinc contamination was found to be less than 276 nmol dm-3 and the zinc recovery was 85 +/- 4%. The conditions for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry were also studied. The detection limit was found to be 26.4 nmol dm-3 and the upper linear range was 4 mumol dm-3. The precision varied from 3% (within-run) to 17% (between-run). The recovery of standard additions was 95 +/- 7% (n = 30, different human milk ultrafiltrate samples). Physiological values varied from 0.46 to 84 mumol dm-3 (4-56% of zinc in whole human milk). Expressed in mumol dm-3, zinc in human milk ultrafiltrate decreased slightly through the lactation period, whereas expressed as a percentage of the total zinc in milk, zinc in human milk ultrafiltrate remained constant from day 2 to day 69 post partum.     

Determination of chromium in sea water by atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of chromium in sea water is described which requires minimal sample preparation. The chromium from filtered samples is oxidized with permanganate, extracted with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate into MIBK, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry in a fuel-rich air-acetylene flame. Non-filterable solids are extracted with 12 M hydrochloric acid and analyzed. Detection limits for the methods are 0.05 μg 1^-1 in the soluble phase and 0.06 μg 1^-1 in the particulate phase.     

Determination of selenium in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary The electrothermal atomization of selenium has been investigated for the accurate determination of selenium in water samples. Hydrogen seriously affects the atomization temperature of selenium in a molybdenum micro-tube atomizer. The atomization of selenium also suffers from serious interferences caused by salts and other elements. The extraction of selenium diethyldithiocarbamate complex serves to eliminate the interferences from the matrix. The addition of copper allows the suppression of interferences from elements extracted with selenium. The method permits the determination of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) separately.This research was in part funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, under Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, for which we express our appreciation.     

Determination of selenium in human milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and chemical modification

A method was developed for the determination of selenium in human milk using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The use of chemical modifiers as well as their implications during the pyrolysis step was examined. The chemical modifiers that were studied were Zr, Ir as well as the mixed modifier Zr-Ir. The Ir modifier stabilized selenium at 1000 °C, Zr at 800 °C, while the mixed modifier at 1200 °C. The effect of modifier mass was studied and was found that better results are achieved with addition of 2 μg Zr and 2 μg Ir. The characteristic masses of selenium in the presence of Zr, Ir and the mixed modifier were found to be 73.3, 18.0 and 14.7 pg, respectively, while the corresponding limits of detection were found 2.0, 0.50 and 0.41 μg l⁻¹. Consequently better results were obtained with the mixed modifier. The developed method was applied for the determination of selenium in human milk, which was digested with a HNO₃ + H₂O₂ mixture in a microwave oven. The limit of detection of the method was 1.37 μg l⁻¹, the characteristic mass, m₀, was 48.8 pg and the repeatability was less than 5% as R.S.D.(%). Matrix matched calibration was used. Recoveries were estimated to be 93-105%. The method was applied to breast milk of Greek women (n = 9) and the Se content was found to be in the range 16.7-42.6 μg l⁻¹ with mean value 27.4 ± 5.5 μg l⁻¹.     

Determination of terbium and dysprosium by atomic absorption spectrometry

For the determination of terbium and dysprosium by atomic absorption spectrometry, the effects of several inorganic acids, metal ions and alcohols were studied. The two metals were determined in the presence of yttria and in rareearth oxides with satisfactory results.     

流动注射-间接原子吸收法测定乌拉地尔

研究了乌拉地尔、Bi(Ⅲ)和KI形成的离子缔合物的性质，提出了流动注射-间接原子吸收法(FI-AAS)分析乌拉地尔的新方法。它是基于乌拉地尔在适当的酸度条件下与BiI4^-反应生成不溶于水的离子缔合物，经流动注射在线过滤稀释，以AAS法测定反应后剩余铋的量来间接测定乌拉地尔的含量。本文对原子吸收、流动注射的工作条件进行了优化，并使用内填微孔滤膜的柱形过滤器收集沉淀，使灵敏度大为提高。乌拉地尔的质量浓度在5-100μg／mL范围内与吸收值呈良好的线性关系，回收率为97.2％-100.8％，采样频率为100次／h。     

Determination of thallium in soils by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A method is described for the determination of Tl in soils by FAAS, involving extraction of Tl from 5 g of soil by digestion with HClO₄/HNO₃ followed by separation of the extracted Tl into 5 mL of diisopropylether from HBr solution, including Ce(SO₄)₂. Tl in the organic phase is determined by direct aspiration into the spectrophotometer. The percentage relative standard deviation (% RSD) for 5 replicate samples is about 1%. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of this method are 0.001 mg/L for aqueous solution and 0.02 mg/kg DW for soil, when 50 mL of soil solution corresponding to 2.5 g soil are used. The Tl concentration even of unpolluted soils can be determined. The method was shown to be unaffected by the presence of various ions in soil and was able to recover nearly 100% Tl added to soils. The arithmetic mean (range) of 18 Japanese unpolluted surface soils was 0.33 (0.10–0.56)mgTl/kg DW.     

Determination of vanadium in urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

After wet ashing of the urine sample with nitric acid, vanadium is chelated with cupferron, extracted into 4-methylpentan-2-one and determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with a pyrolytically-coated graphite furnace atomizer. The sensitivity allows the precise determination of 1–500 μg V l^-1 in urine. The coefficient of variation for triplicate urine measurements is <8% for 10 μg V l^-1.     

Determination of aluminium in silicon by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The sample is decomposed with hydrofluoric and nitric acids and the diluted solution is injected into the graphite furnace. For a 100-mg sample, the detection limit (3 σ) is 1.2 μg AI g^-1. The coefficient of variation is 3–13% for 9–7000 μg Al g^-1 in silicon.