Determination of chromium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry of chromium acetylacetonate : Determination of chromium in sea water

A sensitive atomic absorption method is described for the determination of chromium at sub-microgram levels. Chromium(III) is converted to its acetylacetone complex and extracted into MIBK. The atomic absorption sensitivity is thus en hanced two-fold compared to chromium (III) in aqueous medium. The detection limit of chromium is 0.015 p.p.m. with an acetylene-air flame; the sensitivity obtained with other chromium, methods under the same instrumental conditions is compared. The method can be applied to the determination of chromium in sea water; at a level of ca. 1.6 μg Cr/1, the precision is ±0.06 μg/1.     

The atomic absorption spectroscopy of lead

Lead can be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy at 3 wavelengths. The relative sensitivities are 1:1.5:300. No interferences were found from the cations studied. Anionic interferences were numerous and extensive, but were removed by adding EDTA. The use of a “T” -piece increased the sensitivity of atomic absorption when flame atomizers were used. However, extreme care was necessary in controlling flame conditions both with respect to oxygen-fuel ratio and the type of solvent used. The absorption by combustion products in the flame was high, and in many cases, much greater than that of the lead itself.The most sensitive conditions for the determination of lead appeared to be as follows: wavelength, 2170 A; solvent, aqueous or organic; flame, oxy-hydrogen, with the hydrogen atomizing the sample (reversed from normal). Aflame adapter enabled detection limits of 0.013 p.p.m. to be reached.     

Studies in atomic fluorescence spectrometry: Part II. Interference effects in the determination of tin with various premixed flames

The interference effects are reported for 27 elements, 6 acids and 4 organic liquids on the atomic fluorescence determination of tin with argon-hydrogen, argon-oxygen-hydrogen and argon-separated air-acetylene flames. The addition of1000 p.p.m. iron (III) eliminates most interferences from the elements but not from the acids. The basic trends in the interference effects in the argon-hydrogen flame for the atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence determinations of tin are similar. The detection limit, for an 18.2-s time constant, in the argon-oxygen-hydrogen and argon-hydrogen flames is 0.006 p.p.m. and in the air-acetylene flame it is 0.05 p.p.m. These detection limits are significantly better than previously reported limits. Analytical curves in all three flames studied are linear between the detection limits and 250 p.p.m.     

Fluoride determination by magnesium atomic absorption inhibition—release effects

The pH characteristics of fluoride inhibited magnesium atomic absorption signals distinguish them from other anions commonly present. The new technique involves addition of magnesium chloride and then acid to the sample solution while monitoring the magnesium atomic absorption signal. The signal enhancement due to the pH effect is proportional to flouride concentration. A sensitivity of 0.10 absorbance units/ppm F and a determination limit of 0.3 ppm F were found. Tap water fluoride determination results compare well with those for established methods. Various data point to a mechanism involving simple displacement of flouride in the refractory compound to form hydrogen fluoride.     

Mechanical feed burner with total consumption for flame photometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy

A mechanical feed burner has been developed for use in flame photometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The optimum flame conditions for cinisaion and absorption are very different. These conditions are also modified when organic instead of aqueous solvents are used. When different organic solvents are used, the interference is eliminated with atomic absorption but not emission. Flame profiles of a.tomic absorption and emission signals indicate that the processes are independent; the best signal for each is obtained at different parts of the flame. With emission, it appears that line spectra and background emission originate from the same process e.g. chemiluminescence     

Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy of beryllium

The atomic fluorescence of beryllium has been observed. A high-intensity beryllium hollow-cathode lamp was used as the source. Oxy-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames were studied. A newly designed burner assembly for nitrous oxide-acetylene flames used for atomic fluorescence studies is described. The sensitivity for beryllium at 2349 Å was 10 p.p.m. in the oxy-acetylene flame and 0.5 p.p.m. in the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. The analytical calibration curves for both flames are presented. No significant interference was found from the cations studied. Some anionic interferences were removed by EDTA. The effects of some organic solvents were investigated.     

Determination of cobalt in biological samples by line-source and high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using solid sampling or alkaline treatment

Two procedures for the determination of Co in biological samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) were compared: solid sampling (SS) and alkaline treatment with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) using two different instruments for the investigation: a conventional line-source (LS) atomic absorption spectrometer and a prototype high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer. For the direct introduction of the solid samples, certified reference materials (CRM) were ground to a particle size ≤50 μm. Alkaline treatment was carried out by placing about 250 mg of the sample in polypropylene flasks, adding 2 mL of 25% m/v tetramethylammonium hydroxide and de-ionized water. Due to its unique capacity of providing a 3-D spectral plot, a high-resolution continuum source (HR-CS) graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used as a tool to evaluate potential spectral interferences, including background absorption for both sample introduction procedures, revealing that a continuous background preceded the atomic signal for pyrolysis temperatures lower than 700 °C. Molecular absorption bands with pronounced rotational fine structure appeared for atomization temperatures >1800 °C probably as a consequence of the formation of PO. After optimization had been carried out using high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry, the optimized conditions were adopted also for line-source atomic absorption spectrometry. Six biological certified reference materials were analyzed, with calibration against aqueous standards, resulting in agreement with the certified values (according to the t-test for a 95% confidence level) and in detection limits as low as 5 ng g⁻¹.     

A comparative study of standards for determinations of trace wear metals in jet engine oils

The feasibility of using acid-treated metal powder standards for the determination of trace wear metals in spent jet engine oils is evaluated. The addition of 2:3:3 (v/v/v) HF—HCl—HNO₃ mixture to used lubricating oils did not cause any statistically reliable differences from results obtained with organometallic standards. Two sets of six correlation samples, one set being acid-treated, were analyzed for Cu, Cr, Mg, Fe, Mo and V by flame atomic absorption and flame atomic fluorescence spectrometry against each set of standards.     

The effectiveness and mechanism of action of some common reagents in releasing magnesium from silicate interference

A comparative study of the effectiveness and possible mechanism of the releasing action of some common reagents (Ca, Sr, La and Pr) in eliminating silicate interference during determination of magnesium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was performed using a continuous titration method, based on the releasing and inhibition effect. For that purpose solutions of the releasing agents, along with a very low concentration of magnesium as indicator, were continuously titrated by standard Na₂SiO₃ solution. Simultaneously, as the titrand solution was aspirated into the air-hydrogen flame, the magnesium AA signal was monitored. In this way titration curves of a characteristic shape were obtained. Mole ratios of SiO₂ to the corresponding releasing agents at the end-point of the titration were used for evaluating the effectiveness of the releasing action and explaining possible reactions that take place in evaporating droplets.     

Direct flame solid sampling for atomic absorption spectrometry: determination of copper in bovine liver

In this work a new device for the direct introduction of solid samples into flame atomizers is proposed. The determination of copper in bovine liver reference material by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using a conventional air–acetylene flame was chosen as an example. Between 0.05 and 0.50 mg of the test sample was weighed directly into a small polyethylene vial connected to a glass chamber. A flow of air carries the test sample as a dry aerosol to a T-shaped quartz cell positioned above the burner in the optical path. The atomic vapor generated produces a transient signal of less than 3-s duration; integrated absorbance is used for signal evaluation. Optimized conditions for air flow rate, flame stoichiometry, etc., were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between the results from the proposed system, compared with those obtained by prior sample digestion and determination by conventional FAAS. No excessive grinding of the samples was required and samples with particle size less than 80 μm were used throughout. Background signals were always low and a characteristic mass of 1.5 ng was found for Cu. The proposed system allows the determination of 60 test samples in 1 h and it can be easily adapted to conventional atomic absorption spectrometers.     

Application of experimental design for investigating the determination of titanium in glass ceramics by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Interferences of the matrix elements of glass ceramics (Al, Mg, Na and Si) on the titanium signal obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry with a nitrous oxide/acetylene flame were studied by means of experimental design. Quadratic polynomials were chosen as the model; full factorial designs with two, three and four variables at three levels were applied. As expected, aluminium increased the titanium signal, while magnesium reduced it. All the investigated elements interfered nonadditively with the titanium signal; the standard addition method therefore does not provide accurate results. Graphic evaluation of the empirical response surfaces was used to establish optimum conditions for titanium; these surfaces were compared with the polynomial surfaces to check the models. The results obtained on interactions in the system are used with some thermodynamic data to estimate the nature of the compounds formed in the flame. The strong interferences on the titanium signal requires fairly close matrix matching between the standard and sample solutions. The proposed method allows the determination of 3–6% Ti in glass ceramics with a relative standard deviation of 1%.     

Determination of manganese by atomicpluorescence spectroscopy using a carbon-filament atom-reservoir

The atomic-fluorescence characteristics of manganese heated on a carbon-filament atom-reservoir (CFAR) are described and compared with (a) the atomic-absorption behaviour of the element on the same filament apparatus, and (b) its fluorescence behaviour in a separated air-acetylene flame. By fluorescence at 279.5 nm, using 1-mul samples, manganese may be determined down to 0.6 pg (6 x 10(-4) ppm) by use of an electrodeless discharge lamp source (3 pg or 3 x 10(-3) ppm by absorption, and 20 ng or 1 x 10(-2) ppm by flame emission at 403 nm). The effects of fourteen representative cations and anions examined showed no interference at 10-fold and 100-fold levels and serious interference only from magnesium at the 1000-fold level, with ca. 10% suppression from Cr, V, Na and K. No fluorescence signals were observed at any wavelength other than 279.5 nm when the CFAR device was used.     

Optimization of atomic fluorescence measurements with a microcomputer-based time-multiplex multiple-slit spectrometer

An automated multielement flame atomic fluorescence (AF) spectrometer is described. The instrument employs a multiple exit slit monochromator and a single detector. Each element is excited to fluoresce with a single-element hollow cathode lamp (HCL) and a time-multiplex mode is used for pulsing the HCLs and gated data acquisition. A microcomputer controls the pulsing of HCLs, sample introduction into the flame and data acquisition. Optimization of the HCL pulse width and peak current is shown to be critical. With an air/H(2) flame sheathed with Ar, the following single-element detection limits (in mug/ml) were obtained: Au, 0.2; Cd, 0.005; Co, 0.03; Cu, 0.003; Fe, 0.05; Mg, 0.0008; Mn, 0.007; Ni, 0.04; Pb, 1 and Zn, 0.02. Some multielement detection limits were a factor of 2-5 worse. At higher analyte concentrations, the signal to noise ratio decreased due to an increase in the relative analyte fluorescence flicker noise.     

Flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometry for slurry atomization. Determination of iron, calcium and magnesium in samples with high silica content

A study on the use of slurries in flame atomic absorption spectrometry is reported. Samples with a very high silica content are ground and then slurried in a solution containing 2% hydrochloric and 3% v/v hydrofluoric acids. The suspensions are prepared in the 0.01-1% m/v range and introduced into the flame by means of a simple flow injection manifold. Relative standard deviations for the measurements of iron, calcium and magnesium in diatomaceous earth samples are in the 1.5-2.8, 2.2-5.3 and 2.8-5.0% ranges, respectively. To avoid the use of suspensions prepared with a very low percentage of solid sample and to improve the reproducibility, an on-line dilution manifold is tried. The use of an easy-to-construct variable volume dilution chamber allows the on-line dilution of the slurries, thus permitting the determination of calcium and magnesium over a wide range of concentrations. Calibration is performed using aqueous standards. The experimental conditions, optimized for the determination of iron, calcium and magnesium in diatomaceous earth samples, can also be applied to other silica-based materials, as is shown by the analysis of several standard reference materials.     

Evaluation of the analytical capabilities of frequency modulated sources in multielement non-dispersive flame atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Frequency modulated sources of Cd and Zn are used to produce modulated atomic fluorescence signals (at two different frequencies) in a non-dispersive flame atomic fluorescence spectrometer. To reduce the flame background level, a chlorine filter, a separated air—acetylene flame, and a solar blind photomultiplier are used. Even so, there is shown experimentally and theoretically to be a multiplex disadvantage, as compared to the conventional single slit scanning dispersive spectrometer, as a result of the flame background photon noise and an additional multiplex disadvantage at high concentrations of an interference, e.g. in the measurement of Zn (213.9 nm), Cd (228.8nm) results in a reduced S/N for Zn when the Cd signal level becomes comparable with the flame background signal level. Little future for multiplexed techniques in atomic flame spectrometry in the u.v.- Visible is predicted.     

Flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of lead in waste water and effluent after preconcentration using a rapid coprecipitation technique with gallium phosphate

A determination method for lead in waste water and effluent was studied using flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration of lead by the rapid coprecipitation technique with gallium phosphate. Lead ranging from 0.5 to 50 μg was quantitatively coprecipitated with gallium phosphate from 100–150 mL sample solution (pH ∼5). The presence of gallium phosphate did not affect the atomic absorbance of lead. Since the concentration of gallium in the final sample solution is also measurable by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at 250.0 nm without further dilution, the rapid coprecipitation technique, which does not require complete collection of the precipitate, becomes possible using a known amount of gallium and measuring the concentrations of both lead and gallium in the final sample solution by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The 32 diverse ions tested gave no significant interferences in the lead determination. The method proposed here is rapid and has good reproducibility. Received: 16 August 1999 / Revised: 6 October 1999 / Accepted: 14 October 1999     

The determination of magnesium in silicates by atomic absorption spectroscopy

The determination of magnesium in silicates by atomic absorption spectroscopy using a hot flame is discussed. Interference by aluminium observed, in the air-acetylene flame is overcome by using the hotter nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. There is some evidence to suggest that the alkali metals interfere in this determination but this is not confirmed in the results obtained on standard rock samples. Values for magnesium are given for some new rock standards recently distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey.     

The determination of gold in geochemical samples by non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Non-dispersive flame atomic fluorescence spectrometry is a very sensitive method for the determination of gold, with a limit of detection in aqueous solution of about 0.5 ng ml^?1. However, the application of the technique to aqua regia digests of geochemical samples is limited by large scatter signals which are due mainly to aluminium. The use of an auxiliary lamp to provide correction for scatter is suitable for samples containing low concentrations of elements which form refractory compounds in the flame or for samples where the full sensitivity of the fluorescence technique is not required. To obtain both high accuracy and sensitivity, gold must be separated from the scattering matrix and this can be achieved by a simple extraction with a 0.1% (w/v) solution of a trioctylmethyl-ammonium salt (Aliquat-336) in di-isobutyl ketone. The use of fluorescence avoids the need for a large extraction ratio and a subsequent washing step to remove iron, as is normally required for atomic absorption measurements.     

Speciation of four selenium compounds using high performance liquid chromatography with on-line detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An analytical method for the speciation of selenomethionine, selenocystine, selenite and selenate by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with atomic spectrometric detection is presented. An organic polymeric strong anion exchange column was used as the stationary phase in combination with an aqueous solution of 6 mmol L^–1 of salicylate ion at pH 8.5 as the mobile phase which allowed the isocratic separation of the four selenium analytes within 8 minutes. The separated selenium species were detected on-line by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The signal-to-noise ratio of the FAAS detector was optimized using a hydrogen-argon entrained-air flame and a slotted-tube atom trap (STAT) in the flame. The limit of detection (3 σ) achieved by the HPLC-FAAS system was 1 mg L^–1 of selenium (100 μL injections) for each of the four selenium species. More powerful selenium detection was achieved using an ELAN 5000 ICP-MS instrument. Selenium was measured at m/z = 82. The ICP-MS signal intensity was enhanced by a factor of 3–4 after addition of 3% methanol to the chromatographic mobile phase and by using an increased plasma power input of 1300 W. The limit of detection achieved under these conditions was 1 μg L^–1 (100 μL injections). The HPLC-ICP-MS system was used for selenium speciation of selenite and selenate in aqueous solutions during a BCR certification exercise and for selenium speciation in the certified reference material, BCR No. 402 White Clover. Extraction experiments revealed that the selenium species in the biological material were extractable only in the presence of water in the extraction medium. The results indicated that selenate and a compound of unknown identity U were present in the plant sample. Received: 4 September 1996 / Accepted: 12 December 1996     

Study of interference in the flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of lithium by using factorial design

The severe interference of a number of metallic ions found in brines, marine sediments and sea water in the determination of lithium is demonstrated. Calcium, iron and sodium significantly depressed the absorption signal on lithium in an air/acetylene flame. Aluminium, magnesium and strontium up to 1500, 1000 and 200 μg/mL, respectively, showed no interference in the determination of lithium under the same conditions. Potassium produced some suppression of the lithium signal at levels in excess of 1500 μg/mL. Experimental data were examined using the factorial design method. Interference was demonstrated in two synthetic samples (models of “brine” and “marine sediments” ) and natural marine sediment. It was possible to eliminate all interferences using a higher temperature (nitrous oxide/acetylene flame). In addition, by using the standard addition method the interference disappeared, which confirmed the interference as a proportional systematic error.