ICP-AES detection of silicon carbide impurities volatilized in a graphite furnace with the use of carbon tetrachloride vapour

The analytical capability of high-temperature halogenation with carbon tetrachloride vapour in a graphite furnace was investigated for silicon carbide powder with known chemical composition and particle size. Intensity vs heating time curves were determined for analytical lines of Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ti, V and Si constituents, volatilized with and without the presence of CCl₄ vapour in the furnace atmosphere. Igniting 10 mg SiC at 2100 °C for 60 s in chlorinating atmosphere, the evaporated fraction of most of the constituents was higher than 90% (for Al about 50%). The line intensity vs sample mass (4–26 mg) relationships were linear for all impurities studied, while the intensity of silicon line showed a relatively small change with the sample mass. BEC (background equivalent concentration) values for this solid sampling technique (10 mg loaded sample) were 2–20 fold lower than those calculated for the conventional solution sample introduction method.     

Analysis of silicon carbide powder by ETV-ICP-AES

Summary A direct tandem atomic spectroscopic method for the determination of Ca, Fe and Ti impurities in SiC powders with various grain size (0.7850<48.5 m) has been developed. The method is based on high temperature halogenation of the sample with Freon 12 in a graphite furnace and ICP-AES detection of the evolved sample components. The concentration of the matrix element silicon in the ICP increased to a maximum value after 10s of heating, independent of the grain size of the powder samples. For performing a calibration with standard solutions a finegrained, purified SiC-powder was evaporated simultaneously with the solution residues. The calibration curves produced using this analyte-addition technique and using within-laboratory solid standards were identical within experimental error.Presented at the 5th International Colloquium on Solid Sampling with Atomic Spectroscopy, May 18–20, 1992; Geel, Belgium. Papers edited by R. F. M. Herber, Amsterdam     

Determination of erbium and neodymium dopants in bismuth tellurite optical crystals by graphite furnace atomic spectrometry techniques

Application of concentrated HCl as a solvent and triammonium citrate (TAC) as a chemical modifier is advantageous for the determination of Er and Nd dopants in bismuth tellurite (Bi₂TeO₅) single crystals by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The use of mini-flow of the internal gas, instead of gas stop, results in better precision at a price of a relatively small decrease in sensitivity. By evaluating integrated absorbance (A_int) signals for the GFAAS measurements (in the presence of matrix and TAC additive), characteristic mass values of 42 and 320 pg, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.9 and 131 μg l⁻¹ are found for Er and Nd, respectively. These LOD data correspond to 0.78 μg g⁻¹ Er and 21 μg g⁻¹ Nd in the solid samples. The calibration curves are linear up to 0.33 and 2.9 mg l⁻¹ concentrations in the solutions of Er and Nd, respectively. The ratio of the A_int signals of Er and Nd under gas stop and mini-flow were found near constant (1.34) with and without the matrix plus TAC. According to the vaporisation studies by graphite furnace electrothermal vaporisation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (GF-ETV-ICP-AES), the vaporisation of Bi and Te components of the solid Bi₂TeO₅ can be completed at 1200°C in a relatively short time, ensuring a preconcentration for the Er and Nd dopants, which do not vaporise below 2200°C in an argon atmosphere. On the other hand, fast vaporisation can be performed for the analytes at 2200°C with the use of CCl₄ vapour (∼0.5 v/v%) in the internal furnace gas (Ar). It was estimated for the Er analyte that by applying 10 mg of solid sample in the GF-ETV device (dispensed into a graphite sample boat) and using a two-step heating procedure (prevaporisation of the matrix in argon and vaporisation of the analyte in a chlorinating atmosphere), the lower limit of the quantitative determination with the ICP-AES method would be approximately one order of magnitude better than attainable with the GFAAS method based on dissolution.     

Evaluation of C18 adsorbent cartridges for sampling and derivatization of primary amines in air

The sampling efficiency of C₁₈ solid-phase extraction cartridges was investigated for methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine and pentylamine, in air. Determination of these analytes was based on derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde-N-acetylcysteine (OPA-NAC) on the solid support and fluorescence detection at λ_excitation=330 nm and λ_emission=440 nm of the eluted derivatives. The calibration model derived from aqueous standards was statistically comparable with the calibration model for air standards. Aqueous amines can be used as standards. The method was useful for calculating short-term exposure limits (STEL). A sampling time of 15 min at 30 ml min⁻¹ was employed. Good recoveries for amines alone and their mixtures were obtained from air and water samples, 98±14 and 97±12% (mean ), respectively. Recovery values were independent of amine concentration. The detection limits varied between 0.16 and 0.52 μg per sample (0.35 and 1.18 mg m⁻³, respectively) and the calibration graphs were linear in the range 0.5-2 μg per sample except for pentylamine, which was 1.5-5 μg per sample. The utility of the method was demonstrated for the estimation of methylamine in two generated air samples.     

Synergistic extraction of manganese(II) with thenoyltrifluoroacetone and neutral unidentate and bidentate ligands

Tritium content in tritiated titanium was measured by the method of fluorescent X-ray detection with an intrinsic Ge detector. The conventional method of setting region-of-interest of overlapped X-ray peaks was developed. The Ti K and K X-ray peak profile of³H/Ti was compared with that of V-49 electron capture standard source. Effect of geometry and sample thickness on peak profile was discussed. Detection limit in this method was 0.187 GBq of tritium.     

Synthesis, thermal behavior, and other properties of Y(III) and La(III) complexes with 4,4′-bipyridine and trichloro- or dibromoacetates

New Y(III) and La(III) complexes with 4-bpy (4,4??-bipyridine) and trichloro- or dibromoacetates with the formulae: Y(4-bpy)₂(CCl₃COO)₃·H₂O I, La(4-bpy)_1.5(CCl₃COO)₃·2H₂O II, Y(4-bpy)_1.5(CHBr₂COO)₃·3H₂O III, and La(4-bpy)(CHBr₂COO)₃·H₂O IV were prepared and characterized by chemical, elemental analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Conductivity studies (in methanol, dimethyloformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide) were also described. They are small, crystalline substances. The way of metal?Cligand coordination was discussed. The thermal properties of complexes in the solid state were studied by TG-DTG techniques under dynamic flowing air atmosphere. TG-FTIR system was used to analyze principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products evolved during pyrolysis in dynamic flowing argon atmosphere for La(III) compounds.     

Linearization of calibration curves by aerosol carrier effect of CCl4 vapor in electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Carbon tetrachloride vapor as gaseous phase modifier in a graphite furnace electrothermal vaporizer (GFETV) converts heavy volatile analyte forms to volatile and medium volatile chlorides and produces aerosol carrier effect, the latter being a less generally recognized benefit. However, the possible increase of polyatomic interferences in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GFETV–ICP-MS) by chlorine and carbon containing species due to CCl₄ vapor introduction has been discouraging with the use of low resolution, quadrupole type MS equipment. Being aware of this possible handicap, it was aimed at to investigate the feasibility of the use of this halogenating agent in ICP-MS with regard of possible hazards to the instrument, and also to explore the advantages under these specific conditions. With sample gas flow (inner gas flow) rate not higher than 900 ml min⁻¹ Ar in the torch and 3 ml min⁻¹ CCl₄ vapor flow rate in the furnace, the long-term stability of the instrument was ensured and the following benefits by the halocarbon were observed. The non-linearity error (defined in the text) of the calibration curves (signal versus mass functions) with matrix-free solution standards was 30–70% without, and 1–5% with CCl₄ vapor introduction, respectively, at 1 ng mass of Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb analytes. The sensitivity for these elements increased by 2–4-fold with chlorination, while the relative standard deviation (RSD) was essentially the same (2–5%) for the two cases in comparison. A vaporization temperature of 2650 °C was required for Cr in Ar atmosphere, while 2200 °C was sufficient in Ar + CCl₄ atmosphere to attain complete vaporization. Improvements in linear response and sensitivity were the highest for this least volatile element. The pyrolytic graphite layer inside the graphite tube was protected by the halocarbon, and tube life time was further increased by using traces of hydrocarbon vapor in the external sheath gas of the graphite furnace. Details of the modification of the gas supply for HGA-600MS furnace and the design of the volatilization device are described.     

Synthesis of heterocycles on the basis of products of addition of polyhaloalkanes to unsaturated systems.

Oximes of 3,3-dichloropropenal and 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-chloro-1-butenal were obtained on the basis of products of free-radical addition of CCl₄ and CF₃CCl₃ to vinyl butyl ether. Generation of the corresponding nitrile oxides from these oximes and reaction of the nitrile oxides in situ with vinyl butyl ether, phenylacetylene, and propargyl alcohol via the scheme of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition are proposed as a method for the synthesis of isoxazoles containing ,-dichlorovinyl and -trifluoromethyl--chlorovinyl substituents in the 3 position.See [1] for Communication 1.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1250–1255, September, 1990.     

Calibration possibilities and modifier use in ETV ICP OES determination of trace and minor elements in plant materials

The possibilities for universal calibration based on multi-element aqueous standard solutions and graphite laboratory reference materials (graphite standards) for the electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric (ETV ICP OES) determination of Al, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn in plant materials were investigated. A commercially available state-of-the-art ETV device was coupled with an Echelle ICP spectrometer equipped with a charge-injection-device (CID) camera for spectral detection. The transition area between transport tube and ETV graphite tube and the gas streams for inner gas, bypass gas, and modifier gas were optimized to achieve best transport efficiencies. The influence of four gaseous modifiers (CCl₄, CHCl₃, CCl₂F₂, and C₃H₈) added to the inner gas was studied. Five reference materials (RM P-Alfalfa, Lucerne; NIES CRM No.9 “Sargasso”; CTA-VTL-2 Virginia Tobacco Leaves; NIST SRM 1515 Apple Leaves; IAEA-V-10 Hay Powder) were used for method validation. If certified reference materials are not available, calibration against graphite standards or dried aqueous standard solutions is possible. Three carbonization procedures as sample pretreatment for the plant materials were investigated. Figure Picture of the ETV system (sample changer and graphite-tube furbace) used in this work Presented at the European Symposium on Atomic Spectrometry (ESAS) September 28-October 1, 2008, Weimar, Germany.     

Phase identification in Ti/TiN diffusion couples with the Kossel technique

A Ti/TiN diffusion couple, which had been prepared by isothermal annealing of a Ti sheet in nitrogen atmosphere at 1091 °C and quenched in water, was investigated by Kossel microdiffraction. Kossel patterns were obtained from all phases present in the diffusion couple (-Ti(N), -Ti₃N_2–x, -Ti₄N_3–x and -TiN_1-x)It could be shown that the Kossel technique has a superior lateral resolution (10 m) compared to commercially used X-ray microdiffraction methods, especially in the case of weak X-ray radiation.     

Generation,low-temperature stabilization,structure, and reactivity of intermediates with low-coordinated carbon,silicon, and germanium atoms

The mechanisms of thermal and photochemical transformations of organic and organometallic compounds which pass through formation of different reactive intermediates were investigated by low-temperature matrix IR spectroscopy. Low-temperature matrix stabilization of the intermediates, the primary products of these reactions, was conducted at 10–15 K. The spectral and structural parameters of the free radicals (CCl₃, CCl₂Br, CClBr₂, CH₂CH=CH₂, CF₂CF=CF₂, CH₂-CCH, CH₂CN, CH₂Ph, CF₂C₆F₅), halocarbenes and their silicon and germanium analogs, and unstable molecules with double-bond silicon and germanium atoms were obtained as a result.The article is based on a plenary report to the 10th IUPAC Conference on Physical-Organic Chemistry (Haifa, Israel, August, 1990) [1] and partially includes data from Low-Temperature Matrix Stabilization and IR Spectroscopic Study of Free Radicals by O. M. Nefedov, A. K. Mal'tsev, and V. A. Korolev, awarded the N. N. Semenov Prize, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, for 1991.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2425–2442, November, 1991.We would like to thank V. A. Korolev for assisting in writing this article.     

Determination of Chlorine in Plastics via SrCl by Solid-Sampling High-Resolution Continuum Source Graphite Furnace Molecular Absorption Spectrometry

Solid sampling high resolution continuum source molecule absorption spectrometry (SS-HR-CS MAS) was applied for the determination of chlorine in plastic using the strontium monochloride (SrCl) molecule. For this purpose, 10?µL of 20?g L^?1 strontium (prepared from Sr(NO₃)₂) solution were pipetted with aqueous Cl standards or 0.05 to 4?mg of slivered plastic samples on a platform and introduced into the furnace. Chlorine was determined with the molecular absorption of SrCl at 635.862?nm using 1100?°C and 2200?°C for the pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures, respectively. Aqueous standards were used for calibration. The accuracy of the method was evaluated using a certified polyethylene reference material. The limit of detection and characteristic mass values of the method were 2.5?ng and 0.4?ng, respectively. The chlorine concentrations in various polyethylene beverage containers were determined.     

Silicon Carbide Modified Carbon Materials. Formation of Nanocrystalline SiC from Thermochemical Processes in the System Coal Tar Pitch/Poly(carbosilane)

Poly(carbosilane) or PCS, {–CH₂–SiH(CH₃)–} _n , is used as a Si-bearing precursor in combination with a coal tar pitch to study thermally induced transformations toward SiC-modified carbon composites. Following mixing of the components in the molten pitch at 160°C, the mixture is heated under argon atmosphere at 500°C yielding a solid carbonizate that is further subjected to separate pyrolysis experiments at 1300°C or 1650°C. At temperatures up to 500°C, the PCS reacts with suitable pitch components as well as undergoing decomposition reactions. At higher temperatures, clusters of prevailingly nanocrystalline -SiC are confirmed after the 1650°C pyrolysis step with indications that the formation of the compound starts at 1300°C. ²⁹Si MAS NMR, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, and elemental analysis are used to characterize each pyrolysis step, especially, from the viewpoint of transformation of silicon species to silicon carbide in the carbon matrix evolved from the pitch.     

Configuration of benzoylpyridineoximes studied by 1H and 13C NMR. Effect of protonation of the pyridine nitrogen atom

A simple and convenient method is proposed for determining the configuration of E,Z-isomers of 2-, 3-, and 4-benzoylpyridines. The difference in chemical shifts (, ppm) in the system CCl₄-DMSO-D₆ and CCl₄-DMSO-CF₃COOD for the -H atoms or the , -C atoms of the pyridine ring can be used to determine the configuration. The shift () of the -H signals to weak field is greater for the Z-isomers than for the E-isomers due to protonation of the pyridine nitrogen atom. The reverse dependence is seen in the ¹³C NMR for the E,Z-isomers. The signals of the -C atoms shift to stronger field after protonation.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1073–1077, August, 1990.     

The radiolysis of aqueous solution of bis/1,2-dicarbollyl/cobalt/III/ acid

The radiation-induced oxidation of bis/1,2-dicarbollyl/cobalt/III/ acid by OH radicals in deaerated/aerated aqueous solutions has been investigated. 8-Monohydroxy-, and 8,8-dihydroxy-derivatives have been identified as products of the -radiolysis. For the different conditions the following radiationchemical yields were observed: in the presence of N₂ atmosphere G/_OHDCC/=1.58, in aerated solution 2.11 and 3.04 in a solution saturated with CCl₃.     

A new cataluminescence sensor for carbon tetrachloride using its catalytic reduction by hydrogen on palladium/carbon surface

A new cataluminescence (CTL) sensor was developed based on the chemiluminescence (CL) emission from the catalytic hydrodechlorination of carbon tetrachloride on the surface of palladium/carbon catalyst. The factors influencing the CTL signal, such as the catalyst, carrier gas, gas flow rate, temperature and the CL wavelength, were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of the CTL intensity versus concentration of carbon tetrachloride was 4.7–235 μg/mL (R = 0.9944, n = 7), with a limit of detection of 0.7 μg/mL (σ = 3). GC/MS results suggest that the possible CTL mechanism of the reduction is the formation of CCl₃ radicals. The CCl₃ radicals combine with H free atoms or capture hydrogen atoms from H₂ molecules to form excited CHCl₃ intermediates, which decay from the excited-state to the ground giving CTL emission for the detection. It is also found that some benzene derivatives with α-H of branched-chain, such as toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenecan, can play a role of catalyst in the reaction.     

Reaction of α,α,ω-trichloro- and α,α,α,ω-tetrachloroalkanes with alkali metal acylates in aprotic solvents

Polychloroalkanes and -alkenes R(CH₂)_nCl (R=CHCl₂CH₂, CCl₂=CH, n=1, 3) in dipolar aprotic solvents — dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) — at 130–150°C react selectively at the CH₂Cl group with salts of carboxylic acids RCO₂K(Na) to form dichloroesters RCO₂· (CH₂)_nR (R=CHCl₂CH₂, CCl₂=CH). In tetrachloroalkanes CCl₃CH₂(CH₂)_nCl (n = 1, 3, 5) under the same conditions the selectivity of the CCl₃ and CH₂Cl groups relative to the nucleophile RCO₂K(Na) is altered — unsaturated esters RCO₂(CH₂)_nCH=CCl₂ are formed in one stage with yields of 75–90%. Under the selected conditions, high conversion of polychloroalkanes to esters is attained 3 to 5 times more rapidly than in acid media. The structure of the ester obtained has been confirmed by their PMR spectra.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2790–2793, December, 1990.     

Molecular fragmentations: Part IV. The mass spectral fragmentation of carbon tetrachloride

MINDO/3 calculations have been made of the molecular structures and energies of seven isomeric forms of the molecular cation (CCl₄)⁺, of the mass spectral fragment pairs:

and also of a number of neutral fragment pairs. Reaction energy profiles have been calculated for two fragmentations of (CCl₄)⁺, into [(CCl₂)⁺ + Cl₂], and into [(CCl₃)⁺ + Cl^?], in the latter of which the reaction proceeds via a rather stable intermediate; for the fragmentation of three electronic states of (CCl₃)⁺ into [(CCl₂)⁺ + Cl^?], where the ground singlet state and first triplet state of (CCl₃⁺ yield the ground doublet state of (CCl₂)⁺, but the first excited singlet of (CCl₃)⁺ yields the first excited doublet of (CCl₂)⁺ ; and for the fragmentation of the ground state of (CCl₃)⁺ into [(CCl)⁺ + Cl₂].     

Analysis of silicon carbide powders with ICP-MS subsequent to sample dissolution without and with matrix removal

ICP-MS has been employed for the analysis of silicon carbide powders in connection with high pressure acid decomposition without and with matrix removal by evaporation. The powder is decomposed by treatment of a 250 mg sample with a mixture of HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and HF. Prior to the analyses with ICP-MS the solutions have to be diluted to a matrix concentration of 500 g/ml related to SiC in order to realize full long-term precision. The results obtained for Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Hf, Ta, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U in SiC powder S-933 are shown to be in good agreement with those of independent methods, such as INAA, ICP-AES with slurry atomization and ICP-AES subsequent to sample decomposition. For extending the use of ICP-MS to elements such as Mg, Ca, Sc and Ti at the relevant concentrations in SiC powders, a more effective matrix removal by evaporation of the decomposition solution to near dryness has been successfully applied. Its advantages have been proven by the results of high resolution ICP-MS. It has been found by analyses of the treated sample solutions for the residual Si and C with ICP-MS that over 99% of the matrix and also of the acids used for decomposition are removed. For B, Al and Fe losses were found to occur at concentration levels of some g/g, 200 g/g and 300 g/g, respectively, and all other elements were detected with very good recoveries. For all 36 elements investigated in this work the detection limits could be improved from the ng/g to the pg/g range by removal of the matrix. The analytical range could be improved, in particular for In, Tl, Bi and U.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dieter Klockow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Simultaneous direct determination of aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders by slurry-sampling graphite furnace AAS.

A fast and accurate analytical method was established for the simultaneous direct determination of aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using a slurry sampling technique and a Hitachi Model Z-9000 atomic absorption spectrometer. The slurry samples were prepared by the ultrasonication of silicon carbide or silicon nitride powders with 0.1 M nitric acid. Calibration curves were prepared by using a mixed standard solution containing aluminum, calcium, iron and 0.1 M nitric acid. The analytical results of the proposed method for aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride reference materials were in good agreement with the reference values. The detection limits for aluminum, calcium and iron were 0.6 microg/g, 0.15 microg/g and 2.5 microg/g, respectively, in solid samples, when 200 mg of powdered samples were suspended in 20 ml of 0.1 M nitric acid and a 10 microl portion of the slurry sample was then measured. The relative standard deviation of the determination of aluminum, calcium and iron was 5 - 33%.