A mercury-free electrochemical sensor for the determination of thallium(I) based on the rotating-disc bismuth film electrode

A bismuth film electrode was tested and proposed as an environmentally friendly sensor for the determination of trace levels of Tl(I) in non-deoxygenated solutions. Determination of thallium was made by anodic stripping voltammetry at a rotating-disc bismuth film electrode plated in situ, using acetate buffer as the supporting electrolyte. The stripping step was carried out by a square wave potential-time excitation signal. A univariate optimisation study was performed with several experimental parameters as variables. Under the selected optimised conditions, a linear calibration plot was obtained in the submicromolar concentration range, allowing the electrochemical determination of thallium in trace amounts; the calculated detection limit was 10.8 nM and the relative standard deviation for 15 measurements of 0.1 μM Tl(I) was ±0.2%, for a 120 s accumulation time. Interference of other metals on the response of Tl(I) was investigated. Application to real environmental samples was tested. The bismuth film electrode appears to be a promising tool for electroanalytical purposes, ensuring the use of clean methodology.     

Direct determination of total carbonate salts in soil samples by continuous-flow piezoelectric detection

Two new methods for the determination of total carbonate salts, as CaCO₃, in soil by continuous-flow piezoelectric (PZ) detection are proposed. Both use a piezoelectric flow cell and a manifold including a dynamic gas extraction device to purge gaseous CO₂ released by the sample solution upon acidification. One of the methods involves monitoring the pressure generated by the CO₂ produced upon addition of hydrochloric acid; in the other, the CO₂ is quantified by using a quartz crystal coated with tetramethylammonium fluoride tetrahydrate (TMAF). The precision of both methods is compared with that of the officially endorsed method. The proposed methods allow calcium carbonate amounts over the ranges 10-100 mg and 2-15 mg, respectively, to be determined. Both were applied to the determination of CaCO₃ in soil samples. The standard deviation and throughput achieved were 2.7% and 30 samples per hour, respectively, with the pressure-based method; and 6.0% and six samples per hour, respectively, with the mass-based method.     

Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in environmental samples: microwave-assisted total digestion versus aqua regia and nitric acid extraction

We validated the determination of the content of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn using two digestion protocols: a microwave-assisted total digestion and an aqua regia extraction procedure based on the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) 11466 method. Our goal in validating these two protocols, along with a nitric acid digestion, is to propose a rapid, cheap and easily automated digestion method for monitoring heavy metal content in environmental samples. We applied the digestion protocols to samples with a wide range of organic matter such as sediments, soils, sludges and plant material.For samples with a low carbonate or organic matter contents, such as sediments and agricultural soils, aqua regia digestion in an aluminium block was revealed to be an optimum estimator for the total metal content. For samples with a high organic matter content, such as organic horizons of forest floor layers, plant material and organic soils, nitric acid digestion could substitute microwave (MW)-hydrofluoric acid (HF) digestion. Except in a few samples with high organic matter or low heavy metal content, the RSD values obtained after the application of the proposed digestion procedures were lower than 5%. Based on the obtained results, a decision flow chart for choosing the fit-for-purpose digestion procedure is suggested.     

王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞

为了寻求一种更加适宜测定土壤中汞含量的测试方法,将检出限低、精密度高的冷原子吸收光谱法与便捷、高效的王水水浴消解土壤处理方式相结合,建立了王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞。通过测定方法的线性相关性、方法检出限、准确度、精密度、加标回收率,并与原子荧光光谱法进行对比实验来评价该方法的有效性。王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法在汞质量浓度0.0～1.0μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数可以达到0.999 9,方法检出限为0.000 75mg/kg,土壤标准样品测试的相对标准偏差为4.0%～10.7%,实际样品加标回收率分别为93%～104%。采用原子荧光光谱法进行对比测试,原子荧光光谱法的方法检出限为0.002 5 mg/kg,相对标准偏差为4.8%～13.5%,加标回收率为104%～107%。结果表明,对于王水水浴消解土壤的方法不仅适用于原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量,同样可以应用于冷原子吸收光谱法中。所建立的王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法具有更低的检出限,更优的准确度和精密度,有利于提高土壤样品测试的工作效率,值得推广。     

王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞

为了寻求一种更加适宜测定土壤中汞含量的测试方法,将检出限低、精密度高的冷原子吸收光谱法与便捷、高效的王水水浴消解土壤处理方式相结合,建立了王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞。通过测定方法的线性相关性、方法检出限、准确度、精密度、加标回收率,并与原子荧光光谱法进行对比实验来评价该方法的有效性。王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法在汞质量浓度0.0~1.0μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数可以达到0.9999,方法检出限为0.00075 mg/kg,土壤标准样品测试的相对标准偏差为4.0%~10.7%,实际样品加标回收率分别为93%~104%。采用原子荧光光谱法进行对比测试,原子荧光光谱法的方法检出限为0.0025 mg/kg,相对标准偏差为4.8%~13.5%,加标回收率为104%~107%。结果表明,对于王水水浴消解土壤的方法不仅适用于原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量,同样可以应用于冷原子吸收光谱法中。所建立的王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法具有更低的检出限,更优的准确度和精密度,有利于提高土壤样品测试的工作效率,值得推广。     

Comparison of chemical modifiers for selenium determination in soil aqua regia extracts by ZETAAS

The effect of various chemical modifiers 0.5 g l⁻¹ Pd, 1% (w/v) Ni, 0.5 g l⁻¹ Pd + 1% (w/v) Ni and 1.0 g l⁻¹ Pd on the measurement of selenium in soil aqua regia extracts, by ZETAAS, is described. Two Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) RTC-CRM 023-050 and RTC-CRM 025-050 were used for this study. Pyrolysis and atomization curves were obtained for each chemical modifier and their optimal values were assessed. By using standard addition as calibration method, accurate results were obtained for all the chemical modifiers studied. The precision was similar for both CRMs, with a maximum value of 7.5% R.S.D. The limits of detection and quantification for selenium in the soil extracts (n = 10) were 3.0 and 6.0 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The characteristic mass of selenium is assessed as 10 pg. The use of aqua regia as extractant gave quantitative results for selenium in the CRMs assayed.     

On-line coupling of dynamic microwave-assisted extraction to solid-phase extraction for the determination of sulfonamide antibiotics in soil

A rapid technique based on dynamic microwave-assisted extraction (DMAE) coupled on-line with solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed for the determination of sulfonamides (SAs) including sulfadiazine, sulfameter, sulfamonomethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline in soil. The SAs were first extracted with acetonitrile under the action of microwave energy, and then directly introduced into the SPE column which was packed with neutral alumina for preconcentration of analytes and clean-up of sample matrix. Subsequently, the SAs trapped on the alumina were eluted with 0.3% acetic acid aqueous solution and determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The DMAE parameters were optimized by the Box-Behnken design. Maximum extraction efficiency was achieved using 320 W of microwave power; 12 mL of extraction solvent and 0.8 mL min⁻¹ of extraction solvent flow rate. The limits of detection and quantification obtained are in the range of 1.4-4.8 ng g⁻¹ and 4.6-16.0 ng g⁻¹ for the SAs, respectively. The mean values of relative standard deviation of intra- and inter-day ranging from 2.7% to 5.3% and from 5.6% to 6.7% are obtained, respectively. The recoveries of SAs obtained by analyzing four spiked soil samples at three fortified levels (20 ng g⁻¹, 100 ng g⁻¹ and 500 ng g⁻¹) were from 82.6 ± 6.0% to 93.7 ± 5.5%. The effect of standing time of spiked soil sample on the SAs recoveries was examined. The recoveries of SAs decreased from (86.3-101.9)% to (37.6-47.5)% when the standing time changed from one day to four weeks.     

Square-wave voltammetric stripping analysis of thallium(III) at a poly(4-vinylpyridine)/mercury film electrode

A poly(4-vinylpyridine)/mercury film electrode (PVP/MFE) was used for the determination of trace thallium(III) by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Thallium(III) is preconcentrated onto the PVP/MFE as the anionic forms in chloride medium by the ion-exchange effect of the PVP. The high solubility of thallium in mercury further facilitates the accumulation effect. Various factors influencing the determination of thallium(III) were thoroughly investigated. This modified electrode displayed good resistance to interferences from surface-active compounds and common ions and increased sensitivity when used in conjunction with SWASV. In addition, detection can be achieved without deoxygenation and the electrode can be easily renewed. Applicability to various water samples is illustrated.     

Pressurized-liquid extraction for determination of imidazolinone herbicides in soil

Summary A rapid and simple method has been developed for determination of imidazolinone (IMI) residues in soil. Extraction of the analytes from the soil matrix was performed with a pressurized-liquid-extraction apparatus built in this laboratory. Four different types of soil sample (clay, clay loam, sandy clay loam, and silty loam) were fortified with target compounds at levels of 10 and 50 ng g⁻¹ by a procedure which can mimic weathered soils. The samples were then dried and packed in a 25 cm×4.6 mm i. d. stainless steel column; this was placed inside a GC oven and extracted by passing an aqueous solution of KCl (0.1m, 20 mL) through the column at 90°C. Quantification of the analytes in the final extract (50-μL injection) was performed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with a TurbolonSpray interface. Recoveries of the analytes were greater than 83% andRSD less than 7%. The method detection limit was in the 1–2.5ng g⁻¹ range in analysis by time-scheduled selected-ion monitoring (SIM).     

Solvent-free microwave-assisted extraction of fluoroquinolones from soil and liquid chromatography-fluorescence determination

Presented hereafter is a novel method entailing solvent free microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and HPLC equipped with Fluorimetric Detector (HPLC-FD) for the simultaneous determination at μgkg(-1) concentration of eight fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) (Ciprofloxacin, Danofloxacin, Enrofloxacin, Flerofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Marbofloxacin, Norfloxacin and Orbifloxacin) in agricultural soils. The extraction was quantitatively performed, in a single step, by using an aqueous solution containing Mg(II) as complexing agent, thus avoiding consumption of organic solvents. The optimal MAE conditions have been established through a chemometric approach by considering temperature, irradiation time and matrix moisture or solvent, as the most important recognized variables affecting the extraction yield. Satisfying recoveries (69-110%, spikes 0.03-0.5mgkg(-1)) were gained with a single MAE cycle of 20min, at 80°C in 20% (w/v) Mg(NO(3))(2) solution as leaching agent. MAE-SPE recoveries at 10μgkg(-1), concentration near method quantification limits (MQLs), were in the range 60-85%. Good repeatability and within-lab reproducibility were observed (both in the range 1-16%). The applicability of the method to real samples was assessed on natural contaminated soils. Compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), MAE was shown to be highly competitive in terms of extraction efficacy and analysis speed.     

浊点萃取电热原子吸收光谱法测定水中痕量铊

采用吡咯烷基二硫代氨基甲酸铵(APDC)为螯合剂,Triton X-114作为表面活性剂,建立了浊点萃取预富集电热原子吸收光谱法测定水中痕量铊的方法。在优化的实验条件下,方法的检出限可达0.07μg/L,相对标准偏差为3.6%(4μg/L,n=7),加标回收率为93%~106%,富集倍率为31。该方法成功应用于自来水和河水中痕量铊的测定。     

A comparative study of solvent extraction of total petroleum hydrocarbons in soil

Three non-specific methods for the extraction of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from soil into organic solvent were compared. The techniques used for sample preparation were Soxhlet extraction, closed-vessel microwave-assisted extraction, and CEN shake extraction. The total concentrations of extracted compounds in the boiling point range of C10–C40 were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The best recovery (99%) and repeatability (±3%) from standard oil mixtures were obtained with microwave-assisted extraction. However, the different extraction methods exhibited different behaviour when spiked soil samples were extracted. The best repeatability was obtained with CEN shake extraction (±6%) but the repeatability values for Soxhlet and microwave-assisted methods were quite high (>20%). However, the larger uncertainties of the latter extraction methods does not necessarily limit the applicability of these methods to the determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, as in the assessment of soil contamination the expanded uncertainty of the result is usually not limited by analytical uncertainty, but rather by the uncertainty of the primary sampling stage. However, distinctive variation found in the chromatographic profiles illustrates that discretion should be obeyed when chromatograms obtained after application of different extraction methods on petroleum contaminated samples are to be used in the fingerprinting or age dating studies. Otherwise, misleading conclusions concerning the age of spillage could be drawn.     

Electrochemical methods for the determination of total arsenic and arsenic compounds

The determination of total arsenic and of arsenic compounds in biological and inorganic samples is a task frequently encountered by analysts. Several elecrochemical methods have been developed for the determination of total arsenic (generally after mineralization of the sample), arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid. The electrochemical behavior of several other organic arsenic compounds was also studied. This paper reviews these electrochemical methods, their application to environmental samples, and the problems encountered in the electrochemical determination of arsenic and arsenic compounds.     

Combination of ultrasonic extraction and stripping analysis: an effective and reliable way for the determination of Cu and Pb in lubricating oils

The determination of metals in lubricating oil has been used as an important way to prevent components failures, to provide environmental information and in some cases, to identify adulteration. In this work, an effective and simple procedure is proposed for Cu and Pb determination in lubricating oils. An ultrasonic bath was employed for extraction of these elements from oil samples in a mixture 1:1 (v/v) of concentrated HCl and H₂O₂. A very efficient extraction of Cu and Pb (∼100%) was attained after 30 min of ultrasound, allowing the simultaneous determination of both metals using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry at thin-film gold electrodes. The extraction procedure was performed in 4 mL polypropylene closed vessels and dozens of samples could be treated simultaneously in the same ultrasonic bath. The regions of the ultrasonic bath, where the maximum efficiency of extraction was attained were evaluated. Over the optimized region, 30 samples can be treated simultaneously. Used lubricating oils from automotive engines were analyzed by using the optimized extraction procedure.     

Should acid ammonium oxalate replace hydroxylammonium chloride in step 2 of the revised BCR sequential extraction protocol for soil and sediment?

The revised, four-step BCR sequential extraction for soil or sediment has been compared with an alternative procedure in which 0.2 mol l⁻¹ ammonium oxalate (pH 3) replaced 0.5 mol l⁻¹ hydroxylammonium chloride (pH 1.5) in step 2, the reducible step. A variety of substrates were studied: BCR CRM601, a sewage sludge amended soil, two industrial soils, and a steel manufacturing by-product (basic oxygen furnace filter cake). Greater amounts of iron were recovered in step 2 when acid ammonium oxalate was used, for all substrates. Similar trends were observed for copper. Manganese and zinc were not strongly affected by the procedural modification, except for zinc in the two industrial soils, where oxalate extraction proved more efficient than use of hydroxylammonium chloride. A large proportion of the calcium and lead isolated in step 2 of the BCR procedure was not released until step 3 when the alternative procedure with oxalate in step 2 was used. This is probably due to rapid precipitation of analyte oxalates from solution. Thus, whilst oxalate offers superior dissolution of iron-containing matrix components, it should not be used if calcium or lead concentrations are to be measured. Selection of the most appropriated sequential extraction protocol for use in a particular study must always be carried out on the basis of “fitness for purpose” criteria. However, the revised BCR protocol, involving use of 0.5 mol l⁻¹ NH₂OH·HCl in the reducible step, appears to be more generally applicable than procedures involving acid ammonium oxalate.     

Sequential extraction of phosphorus in soil and sediment using a continuous-flow system

Distribution and mobility of phosphorus in soil and sediment are usually studied by sequential extraction. In the extraction procedure, a sample is treated with a series of reagents to distinguish the phases to which phosphorus is associated such as carbonate and iron or manganese oxides, etc. There have been a number of extraction schemes presented for phosphorus. At present, all of the existing schemes are carried out batchwise. Phosphorus contents derived from all sequences are operationally defined and depend on experimental conditions.An extraction procedure, which is a continuous-flow-based technique, was recently proposed by our group for metals in soils and sediments. The extraction is carried out in a closed chamber through which extractants are passed sequentially. In this paper, the system was investigated using the extraction scheme of Hieltjes and Lijklema to study distribution of phosphorus in three certified reference materials (CRMs). A number of fractions were collected for each reagent for subsequent colorimetric determination. The results are compared with those obtained from a batch extraction. The summation of phosphorus contents of all phases were compared with the certified values and with the values obtained from total digestion. These results have demonstrated that the continuous extraction system developed is also applicable for fractionation of phosphorus. Advantage and disadvantage are discussed.     

Ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from mussels followed by spectrofluorimetric determination

An ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction procedure has been optimised to speed up total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (T-PAHs) extraction from mussel soft tissue. The T-PAHs releases have been evaluated by spectrofluorimetry (excitation and fluorescence emission wavelengths of 300 and 382 nm, respectively, and using chrysene as calibrant). Variables such as sonication time, ultrasound frequency, n-hexane volume, dichloromethane volume, number of repeated extractions with n-hexane and number of repeated extraction with dichloromethane were simultaneously studied by applying a Plackett-Burman design (PBD) approach. Results showed that ultrasound frequency and n-hexane and dichloromethane volumes were statistically significant variables (confidence interval of 95%). These last two variables were finally optimised by using central composite designs (CCD), yielding optimum n-hexane and dichloromethane volumes of 2.5 and 6.5 ml, respectively. The lowest T-PAHs releasing at high ultrasound frequency (35 kHz) led to choice the lowest ultrasound frequency (17 kHz) to perform the extraction. Variables such as sonication time and number of repeated extraction with n-hexane or dichloromethane were statistically non-significant and they were fixed at 10 min and the extraction with n-hexane and dichloromethane were performed once. The limit of detection was 0.021 μg g⁻¹ (referred to dried mass), the repeatability of the overall method was 4.7% (n = 9) and the analytical recoveries were between 98 and 105%. The proposed method was finally applied to 16 mussel samples (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Ría de Arousa estuary (Galicia, northwest Spain).     

Spectrophotometric flow-injection determination of sulphate in soil solutions

A flow-injection procedure for spectrophotometric determination of sulphate in soil solutions is proposed. Samples are directly soaked from the soils under field conditions, in-line filtered through ceramic plates, and preserved with thymol. The method involves reaction with barium dimethylsulphonazo(III) (DMSA) in the presence of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) with further measuring the decrease in absorbance at 668 nm. A linear response is observed up to about 5 mgl ⁻¹ SO₄, and detection limit (3σ criterion) is 0.1 mg l⁻¹ SO₄. Only 4.5 μg DMSA is consumed per determination. The system is rugged and baseline drift is not observed during extended operation periods. About 60 samples are injected per hour, and the results are precise (r.s.d. <2%) and in agreement with ion chromatography.     

Interference-free determination of thallium in aqua regia leaches from rocks, soils and sediments by D(2)-ETAAS method using mixed palladium-citric acid-lithium chemical modifier

The mixture of palladium (chloride) with citric acid and lithium is proposed as a new chemical modifier for the elimination of interference occurred during the determination of Tl in aqua regia extracts from rocks, soils and sediments by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using instrumentation with deuterium-lamp background correction (D₂-ETAAS). Palladium was preferred to rhodium and platinum as to analyte stabilization, citric acid served as an effective reducing agent facilitating formation of Pd-Tl stable covalent bonds playing an important role in the analyte stabilization. Citric acid in addition helps to remove most of interfering chloride at low temperature. The further addition of Li increased significantly the robustness of chemical modifier against strongly interfering ZnCl₂ matrix by binding free chlorine into a more stable LiCl molecule. In the presence of the proposed chemical modifier the temperature for the final step of pyrolysis was adjustable up to 1000 °C, without any noticeable loss of volatile Tl species and the interference of the rest chloride matrix was significantly reduced. The application of the modifier to direct determination of Tl in aqua regia extracts from rocks, soils and sediments has ensured the characteristic mass and LOD value for the original sample 13 pg and 0.043 μg g⁻¹, respectively (10-μL aliquots of sample) and has enabled the use of matrix-free standard solutions for attaining accurate analysis. The accuracy was verified by the analysis of certified reference samples and by the comparison of results with those found by an inductively coupled plasma orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ICP-oa-TOFMS) method.     

An electrochemical assay for the determination of Se (IV) in a sequential injection lab-on-valve system

A sequential injection lab-on-valve (LOV) unit, integrating a miniaturized electrochemical flow cell (EFC), has been constructed for the determination of trace amounts of Se (IV) by employing cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) technique. The procedure is carried out on a mercury film coated glassy carbon electrode. The analyte solution and electrolyte solution were continuously aspirated and merged in the holding coil (HC) by using a single syringe pump, which were afterwards pushed into the EFC, where the peak current was generated during the subsequent deposition/stripping procedure and measured as the basis of quantification. Assay parameters were optimized in order to achieve the best analytical performance, including mercury film preparation, supporting electrolyte composition, deposition potential and deposition time, and flow variables in the LOV. By loading a sample volume of 500 μL, a linear calibration graph was derived within 1-600 μg L⁻¹, and a detection limit (3б) of 0.11 μg L⁻¹ was achieved along with a sampling frequency of 20 h⁻¹. By integrating the EFC into the LOV unit, the assembling system not only minimized the sample/reagent consumption and waste generation, but also enhanced the sampling frequency. The work itself extended the applications of electrochemical detection techniques and provided a good platform for Se (IV) electrochemical analysis.