Determination of physiological noble metals in human urine using liquid-liquid extraction and Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An extremely sensitive, reliable and simple procedure is described for the determination of physiological palladium, platinum and gold in human urine. The urine samples were adjusted to pH 4 (Pd, Au) or pH 5 (Pt), followed by conversion of the analytes to their pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complexes. These complexes were separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction into 4-methyl-2-pentanone resulting in a 25-fold enrichment. Determination was by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) using longitudinal inverse alternating current Zeeman-effect background correction. The limits of detection calculated from three standard deviations of the blank values were 20 ng l⁻¹ for Pd and Au and 70 ng l⁻¹ Pt. Within-day precision (n = 10, 5 μg l⁻¹) ranged 5.2%–7.7%. The procedure is successfully applied to determine urinary palladium, platinum and gold in nine unexposed persons. Palladium levels in urine ranged < 20–80 ng l⁻¹ (arithmetical MEAN=38.7 ng l⁻¹), while gold levels ranged < 20–130 ng l⁻¹ (36.0 ng l⁻¹). Physiological platinum levels in urine were all < 70 ng l⁻¹. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by analyzing a series of urine samples by a second independent method (magnetic sector field inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) in combination with UV photolysis.     

Versuche zur Anreicherung von Edelmetallspuren in Reinstquecksilber durch partielles Lösen der Matrix

Trace impurities of gold and palladium in metallic mercury can be enriched in a simple way by partially dissolving the sample in nitric acid. Practically the whole trace content of the sample will be collected in the residue. Up to at least 100 g Hg the quantity of the mercury sample has no influence on the trace enrichment. After the partial dissolution of the metal the enriched gold was determined photometrically with Rhodamine B as a reagent, Pd was determined as [PdJ₄]^2? complex. For the analysis of metallic mercury containing 0.5 ppm of Au and 2 ppm of Pd the relative standard deviation is 0.046, respectively 0.037. The limit of detection was found to be at 0.2 ppm for both the elements. Using this method, the enrichment of traces of silver in mercury is not possible.     

Extractive separation and spectrophotometric determination of palladium and platinum with dithizone in the presence of stannous chloride

The conditions [acid used, presence of chloride and tin(II)] for the extractive separation and spectrophotometric determination of palladium and platinum as the dithizonates Pd(HDz)(2) and Pt(HDz)(2) have been examined. In the absence of stannous chloride platinum does not undergo extraction. Conditions for the separation and determination of these metals in the presence of mercury, gold and copper, which are also extracted with dithizone into carbon tetrachloride or chloroform under the conditions suitable for palladium (1M sulphuric acid/0.1M hydrochloric acid), have been defined. The mercury and gold dithizonates are formed quickly and can be removed before the palladium and platinum compounds have had time to form. They can be decomposed with iodide. Copper dithizonate is decomposed by reduction with tin(II). The proposed procedure has been applied to the determination of palladium in technical platinum metal.     

Determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) was optimized. Most of the experiments were performed on NBS SRM 1633a Coal Fly Ash with a certified value of 160 ± 10 ng Hg g^?1. The main attention was focused on the decomposition of the sample. The efficacy of pressure decompositions in closed silica and sealed Pyrex tubes using various combinations of acids (HNO₃, HCl, HClO₄) was compared with oxidative combustion of the coal fly ash. Notwithstanding the incomplete mineralization of the sample in sealed tubes, the results obtained showed good agreement with the certified value and results obtained by neutron activation analysis (NAA), which suggests that mercury is quantitatively released from the sample into solution. Lower results were obtained using decomposition in closed (but not hermetically sealed) silica tubes owing to losses of mercury by volatilization during decomposition. Interferences from some metal ions (nickel, lead, copper, silver, palladium, zinc and antimony) were also examined. The results showed a serious depression of the mercury signal only when gold, palladium and platinum were present at higher concentrations, which never or very seldom occur in fly ash matrices, and therefore do not represent a limitation of the method.     

冷原子荧光光谱法测定沉积物中总汞方法的改进

应用国家标准方法(GB/T 22105.1-2008)测定沉积物中总汞量时,对其中的样品消解方法作如下改进:①试样置于盐酸-硝酸(3+1)混合酸中浸泡过夜,次日加水定容为50mL,取其上层清液供冷原子荧光光谱法测定其总汞量;②上述试样溶液如在1～3d内分析毋需加入保护剂及稀释剂,按改进后的方法,总汞的质量浓度在4.00ng.L-1以内与荧光强度呈线性关系,检出限(3S/N)为0.011ng.L-1。用于沉积物中总汞的测定,经t-检验与国家标准方法测定值无显著差异。方法的日内(n=6)和日间(n=5)相对标准偏差分别在1.1%～3.7%和5.9%～7.0%之间。     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of mercury and palladium with Thio-Michler's Ketone using partial least squares regression and orthogonal signal correction

A simple, novel and sensitive spectrophotometric method was described for simultaneous determination of mercury and palladium. The method is based on the complex formation of mercury and palladium with Thio-Michler's Ketone (TMK) at pH 3.5. All factors affecting on the sensitivity were optimized and the linear dynamic range for determination of mercury and palladium found. The simultaneous determination of mercury and palladium mixtures by using spectrophotometric method is a difficult problem, due to spectral interferences. By multivariate calibration methods such as partial least squares (PLS), it is possible to obtain a model adjusted to the concentration values of the mixtures used in the calibration range. Orthogonal signal correction (OSC) is a preprocessing technique used for removing the information unrelated to the target variables based on constrained principal component analysis. OSC is a suitable preprocessing method for PLS calibration of mixtures without loss of prediction capacity using spectrophotometric method. In this study, the calibration model is based on absorption spectra in the 360-660 nm range for 25 different mixtures of mercury and palladium. Calibration matrices were containing 0.025-1.60 and 0.05-0.50 microg mL(-1) of mercury and palladium, respectively. The RMSEP for mercury and palladium with OSC and without OSC were 0.013, 0.006 and 0.048, 0.030, respectively. This procedure allows the simultaneous determination of mercury and palladium in synthetic and real matrix samples good reliability of the determination.     

Determination of Mercury in Urine and Seawater by Flow Injection Vapor Generation Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A simple and inexpensive laboratory-built vapor generator was used with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of mercury in urine and seawater samples. The applications of vapor generation ICP-MS alleviated the non-spectroscopic interferences and the sensitivity problem of mercury determination encountered when the conventional pneumatic nebulizer was used for sample introduction. The concentration of mercury was determined by isotope dilution method. The isotope ratio of mercury was calculated from the peak areas of each injection peak. The repeatability of the peak areas and isotope ratio determinations of seven consecutive injections of 1 ng mL^?1 Hg solution were 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively. This method has a detection limit of 0.07 ng mL^?1 for mercury. This method was applied to determine mercury in a CASS-3 nearshore seawater reference sample, NASS-4 open ocean seawater reference sample, NIST SRM 2670 freeze-dried urine reference sample and several urine and seawater samples collected from National Sun Yat-Sen University. The results for the reference samples agreed satisfactorily with the reference values. Results for other samples analyzed by the isotope dilution method and the method of standard additions agreed satisfactorily. Precision was better than 10% for most of the determinations.     

Determination of methyl- and ethylmercury in natural waters at sub-nanogram per liter using SCF-adsorbent preconcentration procedure

An analytical procedure for determining methyl- and ethylmercury (MeHg/EtHg) in natural waters is described. MeHg/EtHg was preconcentrated from water on a sulfhydryl cotton fiber (SCF) adsorbent and eluted with a small volume of a mixture of 1 M hydrochloric acid and 2 M sodium chloride. The eluate was extracted with benzene. The measurements of MeHg/EtHg in benzene extract were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. The detection limit for MeHg/EtHg was about 0.04 ng L-1 using a 20 L water sample. The precision was about 20%. The application of the proposed method to one snow and four freshwater samples varying in humus content is described. The MeHg concentrations found in different freshwater samples were ranged from 0.09 to 0.22 ng L-1 and the recoveries of spiked MeHg were ranged from 42 to 68% which were strongly correlated to the content of humic substances. The MeHg concentration found in snow was 0.28 ng L-1 and the recovery was 79%. The analytical results of MeHg concentration in freshwater samples are discussed in relation to the pH used in the preconcentration, the humus content, the fraction of methylmercury in organic bound mercury and mercury in fish.     

Simultaneous determination of palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold by on-line solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography with 5-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylazo)thiorhodanine as pre-column derivatization regents

In this paper, 5-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylazo)thiorhodanine (HNATR) was synthesized. A new method for the simultaneous determination of palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold ions as metal-HNATR chelates was developed using a rapid analysis column high performance liquid chromatography equipped with on-line solid phase extraction technique. The samples (Water, human urine, geological samples and soil) were digested by microwave acid-digestion. The palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold ions in the digested samples were pre-column derivatized with HNATR to form colored chelates. The Pd-HNATR, Pt-HNATR, Rh-HNATR and Au-HNATR chelates can be absorbed onto the front of the enrichment column when they were injected into the injector and sent to the enrichment column [Zorbax Stable Bound, 10 mm x 4.6 mm, 1.8 microm] with a buffer solution of 0.05 mol L(-1) phosphoric acid as mobile phase. After the enrichment had finished, by switching the six ports switching valve, the retained chelates were back-flushed by mobile phase and travelling towards the analytical column. These chelates separation on the analytical column [Zorbax Stable Bound, 10 mm x 4.6 mm, 1.8 microm] was satisfactory with 72% acetonitrile (containing 0.05 mol L(-1) of phosphoric acid and 0.1% of Triton X-100) as mobile phase. The palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold chelates were separated completely within 2.5 min. Compared to the routine chromatographic method, more then 80% of separation time was shortened. By on-line solid phase extraction system, a large volume of sample (10 mL) can be injected, and the sensitivity of the method was greatly improved. The detection limits (S/N=3, the sample injection volume is 10 mL) of palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold in the original samples reaches 1.4, 1.8, 2.0 and 1.2 ng L(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviations for five replicate samples were 2.4-3.6%. The standard recoveries were 88-95%. This method was applied to the determination of palladium, platinum, rhodium and gold in human urine, water and geological samples with good results.     

Determination of palladium(II) with alpha-(2-benzimidazolyl)-alpha',alpha'-(N-5-nitro-2-pyridylhydrazone)-toluene by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry

The determination of palladium(II) complexed with alpha-(2-benzimidazolyl)-alpha',alpha'-(N-5-nitro-2-pyridylhydrazone)-Toluene (BINPHT) was investigated by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry using hanging mercury drop electrode. Palladium(II) in the sample solution can be determined in BINPHT and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Accumulation is achieved by adsorption of Pd(II)-BINPHT complex on a hanging mercury drop electrode. Optimal conditions were found to be: supporting electrolyte; 0.01 M sodium acetate buffer at pH 5.0, accumulation potential; -590 mV versus Ag/AgCl, accumulation time; 180 s, scan rate; 50 mV s(-1), concentration of BINPHT; 2x10(-5) M. The linear range of Pd(II) was observed over the concentration range 20-100 ng ml(-1) The detection limit (S/N=3) is 2 ng ml(-1). A good reproductivity shows RSD of 2.0% (n=7). This procedure offers high selectivity with the presence of EDTA masking some metallic ions. River water sample spiking with palladium was determined.     

Routine determination of mercury,arsenic and selenium by radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis

A method for the determination of mercury, arsenic and selenium by neutron activation analysis is described. Radiochemical separations are performed by selective distillation followed by electrolysis of mercury on gold and precipitation of arsenic and/or selenium by reduction to the elemental form. The chemical yields are 80–90% for mercury and 90–100% for arsenic and selenium. Interference tests have been carried out with reference to those elements most likely to interfere with the analysis. Detection limits for mercury, arsenic and selenium using 0.1 g of sample are 0.2 ng g^–1, 2 ng g^–1 and 3 ng g^–1, resp. Detection limits can be improved using greater sample size and neutron flux density. Results from the analysis of several NBS standard reference materials are given.     

Determination of Mercury with a Miniature Sensor for Point-of-care Testing

In developing countries, subsistence gold mining entails mixing metallic mercury with crushed sediments to extract gold. In this approach, the gold−mercury amalgam is heated to evaporate mercury and obtain gold. Thus, the highly volatile mercury can be absorbed through inhalation, resulting in adverse health effects. Urinalysis can be used to detect mercury, which is excreted in urine and feces, and correlate exposure with toxic effects. The current gold standard analytical methods are based on fluorescence or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, but are expensive, time consuming, and are not easily accessible in countries where testing is needed. In this work, we report on a miniature electrochemical sensor that can rapidly detect mercury in urine at levels well below the US Biological Exposure Index (BEI) limit of 50 ppb (μg/L). The sensor is based on a thin-film gold electrode and anodic stripping voltammetry electroanalytical approach. The sensor successfully detected mercury at trace levels in urine, with a limit of detection of ∼15 ppb Hg in the linear range of 20–80 ppb. With the low-cost disposable sensors and portable instrumentation, it is well suited for point-of-care applications.     

阳极溶出伏安法测定痕量汞的研究

痕量汞的测定方法有很多[1 ] 。原子吸收法虽然具有较高的灵敏性 ,但是仪器设备昂贵 ,分析步骤较繁琐。近年来 ,化学修饰电极阳极溶出伏安法在对汞痕量分析方面的研究报道也不少[2～3] ,测定的检测限一般在 1 0 - 6～ 1 0 - 9ｇ·ｍｌ- 1 ,但它容易产生记忆效应 ,洗脱不良。本文以玻碳电极为工作电极 ,在ＨＣｌ ＮａＣｌ Ｃｄ2 +中 ,示差脉冲阳极溶出伏安法 (ＤＰＳ)测定痕量汞 ,汞的平均回收率达80 %。1　实验部分1 1　主要仪器与试剂ＰＡＲ— 384极谱仪 (美国 ) ;三电极系统 :工作电极为玻碳电极 ,参比电极为Ａｇ/ＡｇＣｌ电极 ,对电极为…     

Short and long term stability of the elemental composition of human body fluid reference materials and their use as master lots

Summary Studies have been made of both short and long term stability of trace elements in lyophilized human body fluid reference materials, as well as the stability of mercury in reconstituted urine solutions. No detectable concentration changes for mercury, lead and aluminium occurred during the 5-year period. There are large differences in the amounts of mercury loss among different reconstituted materials. Addition of traces of gold to the solutions minimized the mercury loss and increased the useable time of the reconstituted material from hours to 8 days. A certification process based on direct determinations by reference laboratories and by comparison against master lots of the same material and against similar certified reference materials is presented. Values for calcium, copper and mercury obtained from reference laboratories and using the data transfer principle have been assigned in new batches of urine and serum.     

Dielectric barrier discharge-plasma induced vaporization and its application to the determination of mercury by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

This paper describes a low-temperature dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-plasma induced vaporization technique using mercury as a model analyte. The evaporation and atomization of dissolved mercury species in the sample solution can be achieved rapidly in one step, allowing mercury to be directly detected by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The DBD plasma was generated concentrically in-between two quartz tube (outer tube: i.d. 5 mm and o.d. 6 mm, inner tube: i.d. 2 mm and o.d. 3 mm). A copper electrode was embedded inside the inner quartz tube and sample solution was applied onto the outer surface of the inner tube. The effects of operating parameters such as plasma power, plasma gas identity, plasma gas flow rate and interferences from concomitant elements have been investigated. The difference in the sensitivities of Hg(2+), methylmercury (MeHg) and ethylmercury (EtHg) was found to be negligible in the presence of formic acid (≥1% v/v). The analytical performance of the present technique was evaluated under optimized conditions. The limits of detection were calculated to be 0.02 ng mL(-1) for Hg(2+), MeHg and EtHg, and repeatability was 6.2%, 4.9% and 4.3% RSD (n = 11) for 1 ng mL(-1) of Hg(2+), MeHg and EtHg, respectively. This provides a simple mercury detection method for small-volume samples with an absolute limit of detection at femtogram level. The accuracy of the system was verified by the determination of mercury in reference materials including freeze-dried urine ZK020-2, simulated water matrix reference material GBW(E) 080392 and tuna fish GBW10029, and the concentration of mercury determined by the present method agreed well with the reference values.     

Differences in trace-element concentrations in hair between males and females

Hair clippings (from the head) from over a hundred persons in and around Orange County of California were analysed for mercury, gold, zinc, and copper by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results of the study show significant differences in the trace-element distributions between males and females. For mercury, the mode of the distribution occurs at about 1 to 1,5 ppm for males and 4 to 6 ppm for females. A significant difference between the male and female distribution curves was also found for gold, and a less significant one for zinc and copper. This study indicates the possibility that the high levels of mercury and gold in the hair of females are more likely due to external contamination, because of the more frequent and intense exposure of their hair to cosmetics. Moreover, as females usually have longer hair, their hair strands are exposed to such treatment over a longer period of time. Hair being a good ion-exchange material, trace elements are absorbed easily during the process of washing and setting of hair, and accumulation of these over a long period may cause a very high concentration of these elements. The variability of trace-element concentration as a result of external contamination, and the sometimes marked variation along the length of the hair, pose a serious problem in forensic work. Identification criteria should provide for these variations, especially in the case of mercury and gold. This work also indicates that if the evidence hair from the scene of a crime does not contain the root end, its value as an evidence specimen is considerably reduced.     

Catalytic amperometric and catalytic constant-current potentiometric titrations of silver(I), palladium(II) and mercury(II)

Amperometry and constant-current potentiometry were used to follow the course of catalytic titrations of silver(I), palladium(II), and mercury(II) with potassium iodide. The Ce(IV)As(III) and Ce(IV)Sb(III) systems in the presence of sulphuric acid were used as indicator reactions. The possibilities of application of platinum, palladium, gold, graphite, and glassy-carbon indicator electrodes were investigated. Graphite appeared to be somewhat more advantageous than the other electrode materials. The effect of concentration of the components of the indicator reactions, the presence of organic solvents and acids on the shape of the catalytic titration curves was studied. Amounts of 30-3000 mug of silver(I) nitrate, 90-900 mug of palladium(II) chloride, 130-1300 mug of mercury(II) chloride, and 150-1500 mug of mercury(II) nitrate were determined with a relative standard deviation less than 1.0%. The results obtained were in good agreement with those of comparable methods. The catalytic titration method developed was applied to determination of mercury in Unguentum Hydrargyri.     

Gold electrodes from recordable CDs for mercury quantification by flow injection analysis

The development of a new methodology for the construction of very efficient flow cells for mercury detection by potentiometric stripping analysis, employing the thin gold layer of recordable CDs as working electrode is reported. This new source of electrodes (CDtrodes) show very attractive performance, similar to that obtained with commercial gold electrodes, with superior versatility. The low cost of this new source of "gold electrodes" allows a frequent replacement of the electrode, avoiding cumbersome clean-up treatments. Various experimental parameters have been optimized to yield low detection limits (0.25 ng/mL of mercury for 5 min deposition at 0.3 V) and good precision (standard deviation of 1.9% was obtained for 15 repetitive measurements using 10 ng/mL of mercury). Standard curves were found to be linear over the range of 0.5-100 microg L(-1) of mercury. The flow cells developed were used for the quantification of mercury in oceanic and tap water.     

Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry in connection with a chromatographic separation for ultra trace determinations of platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Ru, Ir) in environmental samples

An isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometric (ID-ICP-QMS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the platinum group elements Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir in environmental samples. Spike solutions, enriched with the isotopes 194Pt, 108Pd, 99Ru, and 191Ir, were used for the isotope dilution step. Interfering elements were eliminated by chromatographic separation using an anion-exchange resin. Samples were dissolved with aqua regia in a high pressure asher. Additional dissolution of possible silicate portions by hydrofluoric acid was usually not necessary. Detection limits of 0.15 ng x g(-1), 0.075 ng x g(-1), and 0.015 ng x g(-1) were achieved for Pt, Pd, Ru, and Ir, respectively, using sample weights of only 0.2 g. The reliability of the ID-ICP-QMS method was demonstrated by analyzing a Canadian geological reference material and by participating in an interlaboratory study for the determination of platinum and palladium in a homogenized road dust sample. Surface soil, sampled at different distances from a highway, showed concentrations in the range of 0.1-87 ng x g(-1). An exponential decrease of the platinum and palladium concentration with increasing distance and a small anthropogenic contribution to the natural background concentration of ruthenium and iridium was found in these samples.     

催化裂解-金汞齐富集-冷原子吸收光谱仪测定土壤样品中总汞含量

为避免汞消解过程中产生的蒸发损失及前处理过程中产生器具与样品污染,通过配制汞总量为0～2、0～15和25～1 023 ng的三种不同汞浓度系列的标准工作曲线,选取9个土壤样品、3种国家土壤有证标准物质,同一样品分别进行6组平行测定,并抽取3个土壤样品进行3种不同浓度加标回收实验,以对其方法精密度和准确度进行论证,建立了催化裂解-金汞齐富集-冷原子吸收光谱法即直接测汞仪测定土壤样品中汞含量的方法。结果显示,仪器信号值与Hg总量之间均呈良好的线性关系。根据仪器多次测定空白数据结果,按照称样量0.1 g计算,方法检出为0.09 ng/g;平行测定结果相对标准偏差均小于10%,土壤标准物质测定值与参考值均相符,不同浓度的加标回收率范围为69.0%～97.0%。方法可用于批量土壤样品中汞含量的快速测定,精密度和准确度可满足测定要求,且实验过程中无需前处理消解,操作方便、快速高效。