Determination of chloramphenicol by coupling a continuous reduction system to an atomic-absorption spectrometer

A simple method for the determination of chloramphenicol in pure powders, capsules, tablets, oral suspensions and eye ointments, based on its reduction to the amino derivative by a cadmium or zinc column, is reported. Chloramphenicol can be determined in the range 2–30 μg/ml, with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% and a sampling frequency of 150/hr. The proposed method has greater simplicity, sensitivity and rapidity than the previously reported batch method.     

Determination of nitrate and nitrite by continuous liquid-liquid extraction with a flow-injection atomic-absorption detection system

Summary A flow injection system coupled on-line with a continuous liquid-liquid extractor is used for the indirect determination of nitrate and nitrite with an atomic-absorption detection system. These anions form ion-pairs with the copper(I)-neocuproine chelate which are extracted into methyl-isobutyl-ketone, the atomic-absorption signal of copper from the organic phase being proportional to the nitrate or nitrite concentration. The methods proposed herein are suitable for determining nitrate or nitrite at the g ml^–1 level with a sampling frequency of 35 ± 5 h^–1. The methods compare favourably with their batch counterparts with regard to sensitivity, selectivity, sample volume and sampling frequency.

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Bestimmung von nitrat und nitrit durch kontinuierliche flüssig-flüssig-extraction mit detektion durch ein fließinjektions-AAS-system

Zusammenfassung Ein Fließinjektionssytem, das on-line mit einem Flüssig-Flüssig-Extraktor gekoppelt ist, wird zur indirekten AAS-Bestimmung von Nitrat und Nitrit benutzt. Diese Anionen bilden mit Kupfer(I)-neocuproinchelat Ionenpaare, die mit Methylisobutylketon extrahiert werden. Das AAS-Signal des Kupfers aus der organischen Phase ist der Nitrat- bzw. Nitritkonzentration proportinal. Die vorgeschlagenen Verfahren eignen sich zur Nitrat- oder Nitritbestimmung im g/ml-Bereich mit einer Probenfrequenz von 35 ± 5 je Stunde. Diese Methoden sind den Batch-Verfahren in bezug auf Empfindlichkeit, Selektivität sowie Probevolumen und -frequenz überlegen.

     

Determination of molybdenum by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

A new procedure is described for precise estimation of molybdenum by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry using an airacetylene flame. Phosphoric acid was found to be effective in suppressing interference by Fe(III), Al, Sb(III), Ca, Mg, Pb and Mn(II).     

Determination of mercury by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

A flameless atomic-absorption system has been developed for the determination of low concentrations of mercury in gaseous, solid and liquid samples of organic and inorganic materials.     

Determination of silicon by an indirect atomic-absorption method using carbon-rod electrothermal atomization

An indirect procedure has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of silicon by atomic-absorption with carbon-rod electrothermal atomization. After dissolution, the silicon is extracted as silicomolybdic acid into a mixture of diethyl ether and pentan-1-ol (5 + 1). The co-extraction of excess of molybdate reagent is prevented by the addition of citrate, which also destroys phosphomolybdic and arsenomolybdic acids. The organic layer is washed with hydrochloric acid, mul quantities are transferred to the electrothermal atomizer and the molybdenum is measured. The method has been applied to analysis of several steels.     

Determination of germanium by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

The premature loss of germanium as volatile GeO results in low sensitivity and poor reproducibility in the determination of germanium by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry. This interference can be eliminated by suppressing the premature reduction of GeO(2) to GeO during the ashing step, and dissociating the germanium oxides into the atoms simultaneously with their vaporization during the atomization step. The premature reduction of GeO(2) to GeO has been successfully prevented by several approaches: (1) diminishing the reducing activity of the graphite furnace by (a) oxidizing the graphite surface and intercalating oxygen into the graphite lattice with oxidizing acids, such as nitric or perchloric, in the sample solution, or (b) using a tantalum-treated graphite furnace; (2) keeping the analyte as germanium (IV) by addition of sodium or potassium hydroxide to the sample solutions.     

Determination of chromium in steel by atomic-absorption spectrometry with an air-acetylene flame

A new atomic-absorption procedure is described for the determination of chromium, at levels up to 1%, in steel. The method involves the use of the air-acetylene flame and incorporates 8-hydroxyquinoline as a releasing agent to suppress metallic interferences. Chemical operations have been reduced to a minimum in order to provide a simple, rapid and accurate procedure.     

Determination of cadmium by atomic-fluorescence and atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

The adaptation of a conventional atomic-absorption/flameemission spectrophotometer to the measurement of atomic-fluorescence in an air-acetylene flame is described. The determination of cadmium on the same instrument by both atomic-fluorescence and absorption shows that, even with a rather simple and inefficient means of exciting and measuring fluorescence, results can be obtained which indicate that the fluorescence technique is considerably more sensitive than atomic-absorbance and is equally free from inter-element interference.     

Determination of scandium in sea-water by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

A method for the determination of scandium in sea-water at the sub-microgram level has been developed. Scandium is coprecipitated with iron(III) hydroxide at pH 8-9, and then separated from the iron by ion-exchange. The final concentration is achieved by extracting the scandium into a solution of oxine in butanol. A nitrous oxide-acetylene flame is used for the determination by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. Recoveries of 99-100% are obtained. The storage of the solutions before analysis has been investigated by radiometric techniques with (46)Sc. The scandium concentration in surface waters of the South China Sea was found to be 0.01 +/- 0.005 microg/l .     

Determination of iodine in seaweed and table salt by an indirect atomic-absorption method

Decomposition methods based on fusion with alkali are discussed, with respect to the determination of iodine in biological material. It is shown that sodium hydroxide can be used for the decomposition of seaweed without loss of iodine. In spite of the oxidizing conditions, the iodine will be present as iodide in the final ash. The iodide can be determined by an indirect atomic-absorption method, based on the reaction between iodide and mercury(II), with determination of mercury by cold vapour atomic-absorption spectrometry. The basis of the method is discussed, and it is shown that the use of tin(II) as reductant is essential. The effect of the oxidation state of the iodine on the sensitivity of the method is pointed out. High concentrations of chloride interfere, but it is still possible to determine iodide in iodinated table salt.     

Determination of antimony in ores and related materials by continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry after separation by xanthate extraction

A continuous hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometric method for determining approximately 0.02 mug/g or more of antimony in ores, concentrates, rocks, soils and sediments is described. The method involves the reduction of antimony(V) to antimony(III) by heating with hypophosphorous acid in a 4.5M hydrochloric acid-tartaric acid medium and its separation by filtration, if necessary, from any elemental arsenic, selenium and tellurium produced during the reduction step. Antimony is subsequently separated from iron, lead, zinc, tin and various other elements by a single cyclohexane extraction of its xanthate complex from approximately 4.5M hydrochloric acid/0.2M sulphuric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reluctant for iron(III). After the extract is washed, if necessary, with 10% hydrochloric acid-2% thiourea solution to remove co-extracted copper, followed by 4.5M hydrochloric acid to remove residual iron and other elements, antimony(III) in the extract is oxidized to antimony(V) with bromine solution in carbon tetrachloride and stripped into dilute sulphuric acid containing tartaric acid. Following the removal of bromine by evaporation of the solution, antimony(V) is reduced to antimony(III) with potassium iodide in approximately 3M hydrochloric acid and finally determined by hydride-generation atomic-absorption spectrometry at 217.8 nm with sodium borohydride as reluctant. Interference from platinum and palladium, which are partly co-extracted as xanthates under the proposed conditions, is eliminated by complexing them with thiosemicarbazide during the iodide reduction step. Interference from gold is avoided by using a 3M hydrochloric acid medium for the hydride-generation step. Under these conditions gold forms a stable iodide complex.     

Determination of metals in phospholipids by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

A procedure is described for the determination of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese in phospholipids by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The method uses a solution of phospholipid in isopentyl acetate; phosphate interference is controlled by the addition of aqueous lanthanum chloride solution homogenized with ethanol. Standards are prepared in a similar solvent mixture. A comparison between the described method and that of standard additions show it to be free of phospholipid matrix effects.     

Determination of vanadium and molybdenum by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

A method is described for the determination by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry of vanadium and molybdenum, up to the milligram level, in samples of yellow cake, uranium-bearing minerals and geochemical standards. After attack with acids these two elements are separated from each other and from matrix elements by means of anion-exchange in 6M hydrochloric acid on the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1, X8 (chloride form). Vanadium is unadsorbed and passes into the effluent while molybdenum is adsorbed on the resin. For the elution of molybdenum a mixed aqueous-organic solvent system consisting of methanol and 6M hydrochloric acid (9: 1 v/v) is used. After evaporation of the 6M hydrochloric acid effluent and of the mixed aqueous-organic eluate vanadium and molybdenum are determined by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The method was tested by analysing numerous samples with contents ranging from a few ppm to milligram amounts of vanadium and molybdenum. For comparison, the concentrations of these two elements were determined in a large number of samples by spectrophotometric and titrimetric procedures. In all cases very good agreement of results was obtained.     

Determination of Cr(VI) by portable tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer after surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

As a new developed instrument, a portable tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer (W-coil ET-AAS) was first coupled with surfactant assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (SA-DLLME) to improve its analytical performance and expand its applications in this work. SA-DLLME was very simple, rapid and the extraction efficiency was considerably improved by the effect of surfactant, which was suitable to be coupled with the portable instrument in field analysis. After SA-DLLME, concentrated chromium in organic phase was directly determined on W-coil atomiser. The influence factors relevant to SA-DLLME and instrumental conditions were studied systematically. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for Cr(VI) was 0.016 µg L^?1, with sensitivity enhancement factor (EF) of 107. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for seven replicate measurements of 0.5 µg L^?1 of Cr(VI) was 4.6%. The recoveries for the spiked samples were in the acceptable range of 96.8–104%. The rapid, simple and high effective method greatly improved the sensitivity of this portable spectrometer for the determination of Cr(VI) and was applied to the analysis of ultra-trace Cr(VI) in real and certified water samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of indium by hydride generation and atomic-absorption spectrometry

Conditions are presented for the determination of indium by atomic-absorption spectrometry following hydride generation. Indium hydride produced by addition of sodium borohydride to a solution of indium in 3M hydrochloric acid is flushed with argon into an electrically heated silica tube. The mass of indium giving 1 % absorption is 0.3 mug.