Analytical procedures for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of heavy metals in meals

An analytical procedure regarding the determination of copper(II), lead(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II) and antimony(III) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is proposed. The digestion of each matrix was carried out using concentrated HCl suprapure at 130 °C for 3 h. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was employed for simultaneously determining all the elements, using a conventional three-electrode cell and 0.5 M HCl as supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure has been verified on the reference standard materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a. For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r), and the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e), were of the order of 3 to 6%. The limits of detection were in the range 0.009–0.096 μg/g.     

A rapid high-performance analytical procedure with simultaneous voltammetric determination of toxic trace metals in urine

For the monitoring of toxic trace metals in urine a new high-performance trace analytical procedure with simultaneous voltammetric determination is presented. Particular emphasis has been placed on minimizing contamination by reducing the urine sample volume to 1 ml and consequently limiting the needed amount of HNO(3)/HClO(4) and the duration (<20 min) of the wet digestion stage. The procedure consists of three stages. First 20 urine samples (1 ml each) are simultaneously freeze-dried overnight. They then require only a short wet digestion (HClO(4)/HNO(3) 2:1, 20 min, 210 degrees ). They are then adjusted to pH 4.5 with acetate buffer and the trace metals are determined simultaneously by differential pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry at the mercury film electrode, the quartz digestion vessel being used as the voltammetric cell. If precipitates occur in the acidified samples, their trace metal content can be determined in the same manner, avoiding the low results commonly obtained by other methods. The procedure has high sensitivity with fair to good precision, covers a determination range from the sub-mug/l. to the medium mug/l. level and lends itself to automation. It is cheaper and more accurate than atomic absorption. Thus the procedure provides important potentialities for surveillance of occupationally exposed persons as well as for extended ecotoxicological baseline studies in man and cattle.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of toxic metals in sediments

Voltammetric methods are very suitable, versatile and rapid techniques for the simultaneous metal determination in complex matrices. The work, regarding the determination of As(III), Se(IV) and Mn(II), is a very interesting example of the possibility for simultaneously determining each single element in real samples in a wide range of concentration ratios. The differential pulse (DPV) measurements were carried out using a conventional three-electrode cell, while ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer (pH 9.6) was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analyses of standard reference materials: estuarine sediment BCR-CRM 277 and river sediment BCR-CRM 320. Precision and accuracy, expressed as relative S.D. and relative error, respectively, were in all cases of the order of 3-5%, while the detection limit for each element was around 10(-8) M. The standard addition technique improved the resolution of the voltammetric method, even in the case of very high element concentration ratios.     

Analytical procedure for the simultaneous voltammetric determination of trace metals in food and environmental matrices. Critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements

An analytical procedure fit for the simultaneous determination of copper (II), chromium(VI), thallium(I), lead(II), tin(II), antimony(III), and zinc(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) in three interdependent environmental matrices involved in foods and food chain as meals, cereal plants and soils is described. The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl-HNO3-H2SO4 (meals and cereal plants) and HCl-HNO3 (soils) acidic attack mixtures. 0.1 mol/L dibasic ammonium citrate pH 8.5 was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The voltammetric measurements were carried out using, as working electrode, a stationary hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a platinum electrode and an Ag/AgCl/KClsat electrode as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The analytical procedure was verified by the analyses of the standard reference materials: Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Tomato Leaves NIST-SRM 1573a and Montana Soil Moderately Elevated Traces NIST-SRM 2711. For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (Sr %) was lower than 5%. The accuracy, expressed as percentage relative error (e %) was of the order of 3-7%, while the detection limits were in the range 0.015-0.103 microg/g. Once set up on the standard reference materials, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meal samples, cereal plants and soils samples drawn in sites devoted to agricultural practice. A critical comparison with spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Adsorptive voltammetric procedure for the determination of platinum baseline levels in human body fluids

Summary An extremly sensitive procedure for the determination of platinum in human body fluids is presented. A high pressure decomposition of the samples is followed by adsorptive voltammetric measurement. A detection limit down to 0.2 ng Pt/l sample allowed baseline levels of platinum in body fluids (urine: 0.5–15 ng/l, blood and blood plasma: 0.8–6.9 ng/l) to be evaluated. The concentration ranges in body fluids of occupationally exposed people were determined to 21–2900 ng/l (urine), 32–180 ng/l (blood) and 95–280 ng/l (blood plasma).     

New voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous determination of copper and mercury in environmental samples

Summary A new voltammetric procedure for the simultaneous determination of Cu and Hg down to the ng/l-range in environmental samples is described. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) at a gold electrode is applied. There are two versions. For Hg-levels typically below 100 ng/l in presence of substantially higher Cu-concentrations (300 ng/l or more), e.g. in sea water, Hg has to be determined by the subtractive mode of DPASV at a twin gold electrode and programmed polarisation has to be applied during the cathodic deposition stage, while the usually higher Cu-levels can be determined by common DPASV at a normal gold electrode. For Hglevels above 100 ng/l the determination of Hg and Cu can be performed in the same run by common DPASV at a normal gold electrode. The application of the gold electrode always requires medium exchange to 0.1 M HClO₄ plus 2.5×10^–3 M HCl subsequent to the cathodic accumulation stage before stripping. The method has been successfully applied to natural waters and wine. The necessary sample pretreatment remains simple and consists just in UV-irradiation to release the trace metal amount bound to dissolved organic matter, which is performed with samples from natural waters after prior 0.45 -filtration to separate from suspended particulate material.

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Neues voltammetrisches Verfahren zur simultanen Bestimmung von Kupfer und Quecksilber in Umweltmaterial

Zusammenfassung Als Bestimmungsverfahren werden zwei Versionen der differentiellen Pulsinversvoltammetrie (DPASV) an der Goldelektrode eingesetzt. Bei Quecksilbergehalten typisch unter 100 ng/l und gleichzeitiger Anwesenheit höherer Kupferkonzentrationen (300 ng/l), wie z.B. im Meerwasser, muß Hg mit der subtraktiven DPASV an einer Zwillingselektrode aus Gold bestimmt werden und während des kathodischen Anreicherungsschrittes erfolgt programmierte Polarisation der Goldelektrode. Hingegen können die gewöhnlich höheren Cu-Gehalte mit der üblichen konventionellen DPASV an einer normalen Goldelektrode bestimmt werden. Bei Hg-Gehalten oberhalb 100 ng/l kann die Bestimmung von Hg und Cu in einem voltammetrischen Arbeitsgang mit der konventionellen üblichen DPASV an einer normalen Goldelektrode erfolgen. Die Verwendung der Goldelektrode verlangt immer Wechsel des Mediums zu 0,1 M HClO₄ plus 2,5 ×10^–3 M HCl nach der kathodischen Anreicherung vor der stripping-Phase. Die Methode hat erfolgreiche Anwendung bei der Untersuchung natürlicher Gewässer und von Wein gefunden. Die erforderliche Probenvorbereitung bleibt einfach und besteht in einer UVBestrahlung, um den durch gelöste organische Materie gebundenen Spurenmetallanteil zu mobilisieren. Bei Proben aus natürlichen Gewässern erfolgt vorher eine 0,45 -Filtration zur Abtrennung von Schwebstoffen.

     

Exploiting flow injection and sequential injection anodic stripping voltammetric systems for simultaneous determination of some metals

Flow injection (FI) and sequential injection (SI) systems with anodic stripping voltammetric detection have been exploited for simultaneous determination of some metals. A pre-plated mercury film on a glassy carbon disc electrode was used as a working electrode in both systems. The same film can be repeatedly applied for at least 50 analysis cycles, thus reducing the mercury consumption and waste. A single line FI voltammetric system using an acetate buffer as a carrier and an electrolyte solution was employed. An injected standard/sample zone was mixed with the buffer in a mixing coil before entering a flow cell. Metal ions were deposited on the working electrode by applying a potential of −1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The stripping was performed by anodically scanning potential of working electrode to +0.25 V, resulting a voltammogram. Effects of acetate buffer concentration, flow rate and sample volume were investigated. Under the selected condition, detection limits of 1 μg l⁻¹ for Cd(II), 18 μg l⁻¹ for Cu(II), 2 μg l⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 17 μg l⁻¹ for Zn(II) with precisions of 2–5% (n=11) were obtained. The SI voltammetric system was similar to the FI system and using an acetate buffer as a carrier solution. The SI system was operated by a PC via in-house written software and employing an autotitrator as a syringe pump. Standard/sample was aspirated and the zone was then sent to a flow cell for measurement. Detection limits for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 6, 3, 10 and 470 μg l⁻¹, respectively. Applications to water samples were demonstrated. A homemade UV-digester was used for removing organic matters in the wastewater samples prior to analysis by the proposed voltammetric systems.     

Sequential voltammetric determination of trace metals in meals

An analytical procedure for the sequential determination of Zn(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Sb(III), Sn(II), Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) and Fe(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI) by square wave voltammetry (SWV) in matrices involved in foods and food chain as wholemeal, wheat and maize meal is described.The digestion of each matrix was carried out using a concentrated HCl–HNO₃–H₂SO₄ attack mixture, employing dibasic ammonium citrate buffer solution (pH 6.9 and 8.7) as supporting electrolytes. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials Wholemeal BCR-CRM 189, Wheat Flour NIST-SRM 1567a and Rice Flour NIST-SRM 1568a.For all the elements in the certified matrix, the precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) was of the order of 3–5%; the accuracy, expressed as relative error (e) was generally of the order of 3–6%.In presence of reciprocal interference, the standard addition method considerably improved the resolution of the voltammetric technique.Finally, the analytical procedure was transferred and applied to commercial meals sampled on market.A critical comparison with atomic absorption spectroscopic measurements is also discussed.     

Donnan dialysis matrix normalization for the voltammetric determination of metal ions

The efficacy of Donnan dialysis for removal of interferences by surfactants, complexing agents, and electroactive organic compounds on anodic stripping voltammetry and differential pulse polarography is demonstrated. Up to at least 0.05% gelatin and 0.005% Triton X-100 do not alter the rate of dialysis of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II). As the ion-exchange membrane is not permeable to the surfactants, subsequent voltammetric determinations can be performed by a working curve method. Recoveries of metals from a variety of real samples were generally above 90%. The presence of humic acid (50 mg l^-1) does not alter the transport of Cu(II), Pb(II), or Cd(II) from pH 3 solution but does at pH 8. The transport is related to the free and labile-complexed ion concentration which suggests that Donnan dialysis can be used for speciation as well as for enrichment and matrix normalization.     

Thin-layer differential pulse voltammetric determination of chlorpromazine in biological fluids

The combination of a thin-layer electrochemical cell with differential pulse voltammetry can be used to determine chlorpromazine in plasma and urine. The thin-layer cell (23 μl capacity) has a wax-impregnated graphite electrode. Direct determination of chlorpromazine in urine gave a linear calibration curve for the range 4.8 × 10^-3–2.4 × 10^-4 M with 97% recovery. No interference from glutethimide, dextropropoxyphene, meprobamate, diazepam, and methaqualone-HCl was detected. Direct measurement of chlorpromazine in plasma gave a linear calibration curve for the range 2.4 × 10^-5–4.8 × 10^-4 M with 89% recovery. The procedure for plasma and urine requires only 2 min per determination. Detection levels are below that required for monitoring therapeutic levels of chlorpromazine in urine.     

A voltammetric method for the quantitative determination of midecamycin compared to its simultaneous HPLC determination

The aim of this study was to present the quantitative determination of midecamycin at a gold electrode in 0.05 M NaHCO₃ using cyclic linear sweep voltammetry. It was found that the value of the oxidative peak of pure midecamycin at 0.85 V vs. SCE at a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹ is a linear function of the concentration in the range 0.1693–0.3289 mg cm⁻³. The value of its reductive peak at 0.3 V vs. SCE is a linear function of the concentration in the range 0.11396–0.3802 mg cm⁻³. HPLC analysis of the bulk of electrolyte confirmed the data obtained by analysis of the current peak values concerning the correlation with each investigated concentration of midecamycin. By MS spectrometry no degradation products were found in electrolyte during its quantitative determination.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of prednisone and prednisolone in human body fluids

A sensitive, rapid and reliable electrochemical method based on voltammetry at single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (EPPGE) is proposed for the simultaneous determination of prednisolone and prednisone in human body fluids and pharmaceutical preparations. The electrochemical response of both the drugs was evaluated by osteryoung square wave voltammetry (OSWV) in phosphate buffer medium of pH 7.2. The modified electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic properties towards prednisone and prednisolone reduction with a peak potential of ∼−1230 and ∼−1332 mV respectively. The concentration versus peak current plots were linear for both the analytes in the range 0.01-100 μM and the detection limit (3σ/slope) observed for prednisone and prednisolone were 0.45 × 10⁻⁸, 0.90 × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. The results of the quantitative estimation of prednisone and prednisolone in biological fluids were also compared with HPLC and the results were in good agreement.     

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of tin in the presence of noble metals

A voltammetric method for the determination of tin is proposed to minimise interferences from noble metals that are commonly encountered with other analytical techniques. Strong distortions of voltammetric peaks are observed in the presence of platinum. On the basis of a full investigation, the formation of an intermediate Sn(II)–Pt mixed chloro-complex at the electrode surface is identified as being responsible for the platinum interference, as it competes with the normal Sn(IV)→Sn(0)_Hg reduction. The use of a higher scan rate prevents the relatively low reaction kinetics and thus gets rid of this interference. No problems are encountered with other noble metals such as Pd, Ir, Re, Rh and Ru when using the modified method, although a baseline subtraction is necessary for the latter one. The proposed method is validated with real Pt–Sn catalysts.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of heavy metals in solutions containing humic acids

Summary Various simultaneous effects of humic acids on the current and potential of differential pulse anodic stripping peaks of copper, lead, cadmium and zinc in weakly alkaline and acidic (pH 2) solutions have been investigated and interpreted with regard to metal complexation and the adsorption of humic acid on the mercury electrode. The applicability of the standard additions method for metal quantitation and the experimental conditions for UV-photolysis with a high-pressure mercury lamp have been examined in model as well as real water samples.     

Non-protected fluid room-temperature phosphorimetric procedure for the direct determination of naftopidil in biological fluids

Non-protected fluid room temperature phosphorescence, NPRTP, has been applied to the determination of naftopidil in biological fluids. The proposed method is based on obtaining a phosphorescence signal from naftopidil using potassium iodide as heavy atom perturber and sodium sulfite as a deoxygenating reagent without a protected medium. Optimized conditions for the determination were 1.4 mol L= KI, 5.0 x l0(-3) mol L(-1) sodium sulfite, pH 6.5 (adjusted with sodium hydrogen phosphate-dihydrogen phosphate buffer solution, 5.0 x 10(-2) mol L(-1). The delay time, gate time, and time between flashes were 70 micros, 400 micros, and 5 ms, respectively. The maximum phosphorescence signal appeared instantly and the intensity was measured at lambda(ex)=287 nm and lambda(em)=525 nm. The response obtained was linearly dependent on concentration in the range 50 to 600 ng mL(-1). The detection limit, according to error-propagation theory, was 7.93 ng mL(-1) and the detection limit as proposed by Clayton was 11.12 ng mL(-1). The repeatability was studied by using ten solutions of 400 ng mL(-1) naftopidil; if the theory of error propagation is assumed the relative error is 0.88%. The standard deviation of replicates was found to be 3.5 ng mL(-1). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of naftopidil in human serum and urine with recoveries of 104.0 +/- 0.6% for serum and 106.0 +/- 1.0% for urine.     

Analytical procedure for determination of the time profile of eprinomectin excretion in sheep faeces

An analytical procedure has been introduced to enable study of the time profile of eprinomectin excretion in sheep faeces. Eprinomectin was extracted from sheep faeces with acetonitrile, the extract was cleaned by solid-phase extraction (SPE), and, after derivatization by reaction with N-methylimidazole, trifluoroacetic anhydride, and acetic acid, eprinomectin was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The method has a low detection limit (1.0 ng g⁻¹ of moist sheep faeces), a low quantification limit (2.5 ng g⁻¹ of moist sheep faeces), good recovery (in the range 78.8 to 87.1%), and good reproducibility (RSD<10%). The method was used to study the time-profile of excretion of eprinomectin in sheep faeces after a single topical administration of 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. of the drug. Because of its good recovery, precision, and sensitivity, the method has also proved applicable to further ecotoxicological studies of eprinomectin. Figure Autochthonous Slovenian dairy breed sheep – Istrian Pramenka     

Development of a procedure for the determination of X-ray fluorescence of metals in aerosols

The precision of the determination of the of heavy metals in aerosols by X-ray fluorescence after their collection on a paper filter is evaluated depending on the chemical composition and weight of unsaturated samples. Recommendations on the choice of the optimal shape of the calibration function and on the conditions for the determination of its coefficients used for the X-ray analysis of unsaturated samples are formulated. A procedure for the X-ray determination of metals in aerosols collected on paper filters is developed; its performance characteristics are presented.     

Analytical procedure for the determination of thorium, zinc and potassium in diet samples

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) have been used for the determination of trace amounts of thorium, zinc, and potassium in diet samples. Interlaboratory comparison has been made. The z-scores show that INAA can be used to determine thorium and zinc whereas AAS can be employed to determine potassium in diet samples.