Determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration by column solid phase extraction

Methods are described for the determination of trace and ultra trace amounts of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb in natural waters, alkali and alkaline earth salts. Separation and preconcentration of trace metals is achieved by a column solid phase extraction procedure using silica gel modified with derivatives of dithiocarbamates — Na-DDTC (sodium diethyldithio-carbamate and HMDTC (ammonium hexamethylene-dithiocarbamate) as column packing material. The influence of the sorbent preparation procedure on the degree of sorption of the trace analytes is examined for different pH values of the sample solution. Isobutylmethyl ketone (IBMK) is proposed as an effective eluent for quantitative elution of retained metal ions. Optimal instrumental parameters for ETAAS determination of preconcentrated elements in organic eluate are presented. Practical application of sorbents in analysis of natural waters and alkali and alkaline earth salts is demonstrated. Proposed preconcentration procedure combined with ETAAS determination of trace analytes allows the determination of 0.04 g l^–1 Cd, 0.1 g l^–1 Cr, Cu, and Mn and 0.3 g l^–1 Co, Fe, Ni and Pb in natural waters and 1.10^–7% Cd, 3.10^–7% Cr and Mn, 7.10^–7% Co, Ni and Pb and 2.10^–6% Cu and Fe in alkali and alkaline earth salts.     

Assessment of the essential element and heavy metal content of edible fish muscle

The aim of this work was to determine the concentrations of some essential and toxic elements in the muscle of ten species of commercial fish consumed in Portugal. We combined two different techniques for determination of the elements—energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to quantify K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Rb, and Sr and flame atomic-absorption spectrometry for analysis of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The latter technique was used because of its higher sensitivity, because these elements were not detected by EDXRF. The results obtained show a similar pattern for the trace elements. K and Ca are present at the highest concentrations in all the samples studied, from 0.6–1.3% and from 0.04–0.08%, respectively, followed by Zn, Fe, Sr, Se, and Rb. Sr is present at higher concentrations than Rb in all the species studied except meagre. Concentrations of the elements in octopus do not follow this pattern—Fe is present at a higher concentration than Zn. Low concentrations of Cr (0.66–1.5 g g^–1), Ni (0.11–0.24 g g^–1), Cd (0.01–0.08 g g^–1), Hg (0.49–2.74 g g^–1), and Pb (0.02–0.06 g g^–1) were observed in all the samples analysed. The concentration of Hg was highest in Helicolenus dactylopterus—5.4 g g^–1 in one sample.     

137Cs,trace and toxic elements distribution in Austrian mushrooms

Various mushroom species have been analyzed for their elemental composition (i.e., Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn) by means of ICP-AES. The accuracy of the measurements was confirmed by analyzing a series of the same samples by short time activation analysis. The data were evaluated statistically including the values of¹³⁷Cs. The results denote that the distribution of these elements and their correlation of these elements and their correlation coefficients are highly distinctive for each mushroom species. K, Na and P were found to correlate negatively with¹³⁷Cs in most species. Suillus grevillei and Cantharellus cibarius show high Be values (0.27 and 0.30 g g^–1, respectively), while Pb was high in Suillus grevillei (16.3 g g^–1) and Amanita rubescens (9.3 g g^–1). Higher levels of Cd were found in Rozites caperata and Russula vesca with a mean of 9.2 and 16.1 g g^–1, respectively. Cluster analysis was applied to classify these samples according to their botanical species using their elemental composition. The concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Na and¹³⁷Cs have no influence on the classification of these samples.     

Die Bestimmung von 800 bis 30μg Blei(II) durch potentiometrische Titration mit Molybdat

Zusammenfassung Die Bestimmung von 800 bis 30g Pb(II) durch potentiometrische Titration mit Molybdat unter Verwendung einer bleispezifischen Elektrode wurde untersucht. Unter geeigneten Bedingungen sind mit 4·10^–3 M Molybdat 800 bis 300g Pb(II) in wäßriger Lösung mit einer Genauigkeit von ±0,57% bzw. 0,45% und einer Reproduzierbarkeit von ±0,43% bzw. ±0,30% (Standardabweichung=0,25% bzw. 0,17%) je nach Titrationsart automatisch bzw. manuell bestimmbar.Zur Bestimmung von Pb(II)-Mengen <300g ist eine 2·10^–3 M Molybdatlösung zu verwenden. 300 bis 100g Pb(II) sind in wäßriger Lösung mit zufriedenstellenden Resultaten bestimmbar, jedoch verbessert eine Titration in 40% igem Ethanol nicht nur die Genauigkeit in diesem Bereich, sondern erlaubt auch noch 30g Pb(II) mit einer Genauigkeit von ±1% und einer Reproduzierbarkeit von ±2% (Standardabweichung aus 20 Titrationen von 100g Pb(II)= 0,60%) zu bestimmen.Die Titration von 300–800g Pb(II) in wäßriger Lösung und von 30–300g Pb(II) in 40% igem Ethanol läßt sich auch in 0,1M NaNO_3– 0,1M NaClO_4– Lösung durchführen und ermöglicht somit auch zuverlässige Bleibestimmungen in organischen Verbindungen nach Mineralisierung mit HNO₃–HClO₄–H₂O₂.

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The determination of 800 to 30 g lead(II) by potentiometric titration with molybdate

Summary The determination of 800 to 30g Pb(II) by potentiometric titration with molybdate by using a lead(II)-selective electrode was investigated. Under suitable conditions, 800 to 300g Pb(II) in aqueous solution by automatic or manual titration with 4·10^–3 M molybdate can be determined with an accuracy of ±0.57% and ±0.45% and a precision of ±0.43% and 0.30% (standard deviation=0.25% and 0.17%, resp.).For determining amounts of Pb(II) below 300g, a 2·10^–3 M molybdate solution has to be used. Although 300 to 100g Pb(II) are determinable again in water with satisfactory results, the titration in 40% ethanol is however more reliable: in this medium, amounts of 300 to 30g Pb(II) can be determined with an accuracy of ±1% and a precision of ±2% (standard deviation from 20 titrations of 100g Pb(II)=0.60%).The titration of 300–800g Pb(II) in water and of 30–300g Pb(II) in 40% ethanol is also possible in 0.1M NaNO_3– and 0.1M NaClO_1– medium and can be used in the lead determination in organic compounds after mineralization with HNO₃-HClO₄-H₂O₂.

     

ET-AAS in the Analysis of high-purity mercury

ET-AAS is investigated for the analysis of high purity mercury. Two possibilities are proposed: ET-AAS determination of trace analytes in the presence of high mercury concentrations or after matrix separation by reduction. The ET-AAS analysis of high-purity mercury under optimal instrumental parameters permits fast and reproducible determination of 0.03 gg^–1 Al, Cd and Mn; 0.05 gg^–1 Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb and 0.2 gg^–1 V. Preliminary mercury matrix reductive separation with ascorbic acid allows determination of 0.005 gg^–1 Cd, 0.02 gg^–1 Cu, Cr and Mn, 0.03 g g^–1 Co, Ni and Pb, 0.05 g g^–1 Al and Fe and 0.1 gg^–1 V, but the reproducibility is lower. The main advantage of the second procedure is that it avoids laboratory and instrument pollution with toxic mercury.     

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric determination of arsenic in mussel products

Summary A precise, accurate procedure is proposed for the determination of arsenic in mussel products by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Organic matter is destroyed by dry ashing. Experimental conditions for the determination of arsenic were selected and an interference study was carried out. The methodology developed has a detection limit of 0.1 g g^–1, a relative standard deviation of 3%, and a recovery percentage of 98±2%. The accuracy of the method was checked by analysis of a certified sample of NIST oyster tissue (certified 14.0±1.2 g g^–1; found 14.1±1.1 g g^–1). The proposed procedure was used to analyze real samples of mussel products.     

Rapid Determination of Mercury in Water by Stripping Voltammetry at a Gold-Modified Carbon Electrode

A procedure was developed for determining mercury in natural water by stripping voltammetry on a gold-modified carbon electrode. The concentration dependence of the anodic stripping current of mercury is linear in the range 0.02–5 g/L Hg(II). The interference of Fe(III), Cu(II), Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, and F^– ions with the determination of mercury was studied. Ozonation was used for rapid sample preparation. The detection limit for mercury was 0.02 g/L at an electrolysis time of 5 min.     

New methods for acceleration of meat sample preparation prior to determination of the metal content by atomic absorption spectrometry

Focused microwave-assisted digestion and ultrasound leaching have been applied for the extraction of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ca, and Mg from raw meat. Semimembranous muscle (SM) of raw pig ham was used for optimizing both the digestion and extraction steps by multivariate approaches. The detection and quantification limits were 0.5 and 0.9 g kg^–1 for Pb, 0.06 and 0.1 g kg^–1 for Cd, 0.2 and 1.2 g kg^–1 for Cr, 0.4 and 3 g kg^–1 for Cu, 0.04 and 0.1 mg kg^–1 for Fe, 0.012 and 0.017 mg kg^–1 for Zn, 0.3 and 0.4 mg kg^–1 for Ca, and 0.01 and 0.03 mg kg^–1 for Mg. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), ranged between 2.5 and 9.6% for focused microwave-assisted digestion and between 3.5 and 10.6% for ultrasound leaching. The methods were then compared with a reference method and applied to a certified reference material (bovine muscle 184, from the BCR). The t-test, applied to the results obtained from focused microwave-assisted digestion, revealed that they are in agreement (p>0.01) with the certified and estimated values in the case of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ca, Mg, and Zn but not in that of Fe. In the case of ultrasound leaching, only the extraction of Pb, Cu, and Ca was quantitative. The method based on microwave digestion provides more accurate and precise results than ultrasound leaching. These new procedures have many advantages with regards to conventional methods, namely, reduction of the extraction time, simplification of the process, avoidance of chemical emissions to the atmosphere, and no losses of metals by volatilization.     

Determination of some trace elements in high-purity aluminium, zinc and commercial steel by AAS after preconcentration on amberlite XAD-1180 resin

The determination of trace metals, e.g. Bi, Cd, Pb, in high-purity aluminium, zinc and commercial steel by flame or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following their preconcentrations as iodo complexes on XAD-1180 resin by means of a short column system is described. The recoveries are quantitative (95%). The relative standard deviations varies between 6% and 10%. The relative errors are less than 8% in a concentration range of 1 × 10^–3 –4 × 10^–5%. Detection limits for flame AAS and GFAAS were in the ranges of 0.002–0.110 g/ml and 0.0003–0.004 g/ml or in the ranges of 0.08–4.40 g/g and 0.012–0.16 g/g with respect to the solid samples, respectively.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric determination of nickel as Ni-(PAR)2-(CTAB)2 complex in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and steels

A red, water-soluble complex of nickel with PAR can be extracted into chloroform with CTAB at pH 7.0. The system obeys Beer's law upto 0.5 g/ml with a molar absorptivity of 45 200 L·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 540 nm. Job's method of continuous variations revealed that the composition of the extracting species is 1:2:2 for nickel:PAR:CTAB. Based on this extraction, a highly sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of nickel in polymetallic sea-bed nodules and in steels, after prior separation of iron and manganese, was developed. The standard deviation was 0.04–0.127 g for 5–25 g of nickel.     

Synthesis,chemical, and electrochemical characterization of the [Ag13{μ3-Fe(CO)4}] n− (n = 3, 4, 5) cluster anions: X-Ray structural determination of [N(PPh3)2]3 [Ag12(μ12-Ag){μ3Fe(CO)4}8]1

The oxidation of the [Fe(CO)₄]^2– dianion with Ag⁺ salts occurs through a particularinner-sphere mechanism, which involves an intermediate cascade of silver clusters stabilized by Fe(CO)₄ ligands. The last detectable Ag-Fe cluster of the sequence is the [Ag₁₃{-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3– trianion, which has been selectively obtained by using ca. 1.7 equivalents of Ag⁺ per mole of [Fe(CO)₄]^2–. The [Ag₁₃{-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3–- trianion has been isolated in a crystalline state with several quaternary cations, and has been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies of its bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium salt. [N(PPh₃)₂]₃ [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]·2(CH₃)₂CO, monoclinic, space group P2₁ (No.4),a = 16.284(2) Å,b =18.767(5) Å,c = 25.905(4) Å, = 90.46(1)°,V = 7916(3) ų,Z = 2,R = 0.0324. The molecular structure of the anion consists of a centered cuboctahedron of silver atoms with the triangular faces capped by Fe(CO)₄ units. Chemical reduction of ( Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3– affords the corresponding [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₈]^4–, which in turn gives [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₈]^5– and [Ag₆{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₄]^– upon further reduction. Electrochemical investigations confirm the reversibility of the [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3–/4– redox change. Furthermore, in spite of some electrode poisoning effects, evidence of the existence of the [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^5– pentaanion was obtained. The yet structurally uncharacterized [Ag₆{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₄]^2– dianion is quantitatively obtained by reaction of [Fe(CO)₄]^2– with ca. 1.5 equivalents of Ag⁺ or by addition of one equivalent of Ag⁺ to solutions of the [Ag₅{Fe(CO)₄}₄]^3– trianion. All attempts to isolate its quaternary salts as crystalline materials failed owing to formation of amorphous insoluble precipitates. The above series of ₃-Fe(CO)₄ octa-capped cuboctahedral Ag₁₃ clusters can be envisioned as the Ag⁺ . Ag and Ag^– cryptates of the [Ag₁₂{}₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^4– cryptand. respectively.Dedicated to Prof L. F. Dahl on his 65th birthday.     

Development and Validation of an HPTLC–Densitometric Method for Determination of ACE Inhibitors

A high-performance thin layer chromatographic method coupled with densitometric analysis has been developed for measurement of benazepril and cilazapril, both pure and in their commercial dosage forms. The active substances were extracted from tablets with methanol (mean recovery 102%) and chromatographed on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ HPTLC plates in horizontal chambers with ethyl acetate–acetone–acetic acid–water, 8:2:0.5:0.5 (v/v), as mobile phase. Chromatographic separation of these ACE inhibitors was followed by UV densitometric quantitation at 215 nm. Calibration plots were constructed in the range 0.4 to 2.0 g L^–1 for benazepril (2.0–10.0 g spot^–1) and from 0.5 to 1.5 g L^–1 for cilazapril (4.0–12.0 g spot^–1) with good correlation coefficients (r 0.990). The method was used to determine benazepril and cilazapril in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory precision (1.4% < RSD < 5.6%) and accuracy (1.7 < RE < 5.1).     

Fluoridbestimrnung in Wasser und Luft mit ionenselektiven Elektroden

Zusammenfassung Systematische Bestimmungen des Fluoridgehaltes in verschiedenen Wasserproben aus Serbien und in Luftproben aus einigen In-dustriegebieten und aus der Stadt Belgrad wurden durchgeführt. Außerdem wurde der Fluoridgehalt in einigen meistkonsumierten Mineralwässern aus alien Territorien Jugoslawiens geprüft. Etwa 600 Proben wurden analysiert. Die Ergebnisse sollen für die kartographische Erfassung der Verteilung von Fluor im Trinkwasser dienen.

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Determination of fluoride in Yugoslavian air and water with an ion-sensitive electrode

Summary Fluoride has been measured in over 600 samples of air and water with an ion-sensitive electrode. The concentrations found in the air samples were 1.6–l08g/m³ for industrial areas, 1.9–25.6g/m³ for urban areas and 1.1–18.4g/m³ for rural areas. Most of the samples had fluoride levels below 20g/m³3. The concentrations found in water samples were 0.12–0.34g/litre for drinking water and 0.27–5.6g/litre, for mineral waters.

     

Simultaneous determination of neodymium and erbium in rare earth mixture with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline and TX-100 by third-derivative spectrophotometry

The absorption spectra of 4f electron transitions of the complexes of neodymium and erbium with 5,7-dibromo-8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of octylphenol poly(ethyleneglycol)ether have been studied by normal and third-derivative spectrophotometry. The proposed method is free of interference of other rare earths. The calibration graphs were linear up to 18 g/ml of neodymium and 21 g/ml of erbium (in the final solution). The derivative molar absorptivities are 395 l.mol^–1.cm^–1 for neodymium and 3421.mol^–1.cm^–1 for erbium. The corresponding values of Sandell's sensitivity were 0.36 and 0.49 g.cm^–1, respectively. The relative standard deviations evaluated from ten independent determinations of 2.5 g/ml of neodymium and erbium are 1.5 and 3.8% for neodymium and 1.8 and 4.1% for erbium in absence and presence of 70 g of lanthanum, respectively. The detection limits (signal to noise ratio=2) are 0.23 g/ml for neodymium and 0.30 g/ml for erbium. The method has been used for the determination of neodymium and erbium in mixed rare earths with satisfactory results.     

A toxic reagent-free method for normal-phase matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of aldrin,dieldrin, and DDTs in animal fats

A method for the determination of aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, DDE, and DDD contamination in animal fats (beef tallow, lard, and chicken fat) without using toxic reagents is developed, that uses high-performance liquid chromatography after the sample has been prepared by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) with acidic alumina oxide. A reversed-phase C₁-silica column with a mobile phase of 50% (v/v) ethanol solution (in water) and a photo-diode array detector were used for the determination. Average recoveries of the target compounds (0.2–5.0 g g^–1) ranged from 84–98%, with coefficients of variation of <5%. The limits of quantitation were 0.16 g g^–1 for AD, 0.10 g g^–1 for DD, 0.06 g g^–1 for DDT, 0.07 g g^–1 for DDE, and 0.05 g g^–1 for DDD. No toxic reagents were used at all.     

Katalytischer Nachweis und Bestimmung von Jodspuren mit Hilfe der 3,3′-Dimethylnaphthidin-Hydrogenperoxid-Reaktion

Zusammenfassung Die 3,3-Dimethylnaphthidin-Wasserstoffperoxid-Redoxreaktion wird von Jodid sehr stark katalysiert. Damit kann man bei Anwesenheit von Ameisensäure Jodid selbst in einer Grenzkonzentration von 0,002g/ml nachweisen bzw bestimmen. Dazu eignet sich die Simultankomparationsmethode. Im Konzentrationsbereich von 0,1 bis 0,01g J^–/5 ml beträgt der relative Fehler 3%. Ag⁺, Hg²⁺ oder Bi³⁺ dürfen nicht anwesend sein; andere störende Ionen können mit ÄDTA bzw. Weinsäure maskiert werden.

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Catalytic detection and determination of traces of iodine by means of the 3,3-dimethylnaphthidine-hydragen peroxide reaction

Summary The 3,3-dimethylnaphthidine-hydrogen peroxide redox reaction is strongly catalysed by iodide. Therefore, if formic acid is present, iodide itself may be detected or determined in a limiting concentration of 0.002g/ml. The simultaneous comparation method is appropriate here. In the concentration region from 0.1 to 0.01g I^–/5 ml, the relative error is 3%. Ag⁺, Hg²⁺ or Bi³⁺ may not be present. Other interfering ions can be masked with EDTA or tartaric acid.

     

The simultaneous determination of the emanation fractions of radon and thoron

A procedure first described by O. Hahn in 1935 has been adapted to the measurement of the probability of escape of radon and thoron//the emanation fraction/ in soils and rocks through application of the germanium counter. Measurement of the regrowth of the²¹⁴Pb, Bi,²¹²Pb, Bi and²⁰⁸Tl following emanation loss permits the simultaneous determination of the two emanation fractions.     

Sample introduction assisted by compressed air in flame furnace AAS: a simple and sensitive method for the determination of traces of toxic elements

The power of detection of flame AAS for the toxic elements Cd, Hg, Pb and Tl can be improved by 1–2 orders of magnitude by using flame furnace AAS. In flame-furnace AAS, liquid samples are introduced directly into a nickel tube located in the flame, in the simplest case through a ceramic thermospray capillary. Transportation of the samples is achieved by using compressed air only. Comparatively low detection limits are achieved by both beam injection flame furnace (BIFF-AAS) and thermospray flame furnace AAS (TS-FF-AAS). For TS-FF-AAS, a pressure of less than 20 kPa (<80 in. water) is required. The TS-FF-AAS technique is very simple, robust and cheap. The detection limits were 0.2–0.4 g L^–1 (Cd), 40–100 g L^–1 (Hg), 5–9 g L^–1 (Pb) and 4–14 g L^–1 (Tl), respectively, depending on the method, flow rate and sample volume used. Pb and Cd were found at concentrations of 0.1–2 and 0.005–0.3 g g^–1, respectively, in samples of various spices.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius.     

Thorium in man and environment uptake and clearance

The intake and tissue distribution of thorium (^{2 3 2}Th) was studied in an urban (Bombay) population in India. From the analysis of 16 whole diet samples, the average daily intake through food was found to be 2 g (range 0.8–4.3 g·d^–1). The estimated intake through drinking water and inhalation comes out to be 0.03 and 0.02 g per day. From the analysis of human autopsy tissue samples it is observed that the concentration ranges in lungs and bone are 1.5–16 g/kg and 0.2–9.0 g/kg fresh weight respectively. The average urinary concentration is 12 ng/1 (range 7–22 ng/l for 10 samples). Among the different body tissues, pulmonary lymph nodes were found to contain the highest concentration (geometric mean 53.4 g/kg, range 31.4–85.5 g/kg for 6 samples). Analysis of the samples was done by the neutron activation technique. 311.8 keV gamma photons of^{2 3 3}Pa which is the activation product of^{2 3 2}Th, were counted after chemical separation. A 54 cm³ intrinsic Ge detector coupled to 1024-channel analyser was used. Using the average lung content and the daily average intake values of thorium through inhalation, the clearance half-time from lung was estimated.     

Method comparison study on soot-selective techniques

In a long-term field study at two locations with different air pollution levels several soot-selective measurement techniques were compared with a thermochemical method which measures non-extractable carbon (NEC) detecting the evolved CO₂ by means of coulometric titration. The attenuation measurement technique (aethalometer) and the aerosol photoemission method showed good correlations to NEC for concentrations ranging from 1.6g/m³ to 40.8g/m³. The specific mass absorption coefficient of black carbon with respect to NEC varied between 8.4m²/g and 13.7m²/g with respect to the measurement sites, but the value was found to remain constant at each site independent of seasonal or meteorological variations. The ratio of photoelectric signal to NEC varied between 16 fA·(g/m³)^–1 and 33 fA·(g/m³)^–1 depending on the age of the aerosol. The diurnal variations of that ratio showed strong similarities to the traffic patterns. Additionally a slight temperature dependence of this ratio was found for the aged aerosol with a proportionality factor of – 0.35 fA·(K·g/m³)^–1. With the reflectance measurement technique (smoke shade method) reliable NEC determination was not possible for NEC concentrations 5 g/m³.