Simplified method for the determination of Ru, Pd, Re, Os, Ir and Pt in chromitites and other geological materials by isotope dilution ICP-MS and acid digestion

A method for the determination of low Ru, Pd, Re, Os, Ir and Pt abundances in geological reference materials by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid digestion in a high pressure asher (HPA-S) is presented. The digestion technique is similar to that using Carius tubes but easier to handle and reaches higher temperatures. Osmium can be determined as OsO4 with ICP-MS directly after digestion through a sparging technique. The remaining elements are preconcentrated by means of anion column chromatography. The resin is digested directly without elution leading to high yields but this causes problems if Zr is present at higher levels in the silicate rich materials. The analytical results for international platinum group element (PGE) reference materials, chromitite CHR-Bkg, basalt TDB-1 and gabbro WGB-1, are presented and compared with literature data, demonstrating the validity of the described method. Although higher in concentration, PGEs determined for reference material WGB-1 were worse than for TDB-1 indicating a more inhomogeneous distribution of the platinum group mineral phases. The low PGE abundance chromitite standard, CHR-Bkg, is likely to be homogeneous for Ru, Re, Os and Ir and is recommended as a reference material for the study of chromitites. Detection limits (3s x total procedure blank) range from 0.012 ng (Re and Os) to 0.77 ng (Pt), which could be further improved by applying higher quality acids.     

X-ray fluorescence raw intensities vs. concentration data for multivariate classification of hungarian coal

A set of coal samples was examined by routine methods of coal analysis (density, calorific value, sulfur content, etc.) and by trace element determinations on the coal ash. Both data sets gave satisfactory clustering of samples from similar geological zones. X-ray fluorescence spectra were evaluated in order to identify the significant data-reduction steps in the sequence raw spectra/net intensities/trace element concentrations that is commonly used in x-ray spectrometry. The deconvolution yielding net intensities from spectra was identified as the most significant step. This was explained by the decorrelation effect of geochemically dissimilar elements.     

Qualitative and quantitative determination of micro-inclusions by automated SEM/EDX analysis

With the help of an automated SEM/EDX analysis system non-metallic micro-inclusions in steel can be detected on a metallographically prepared surface area. The system makes it possible to determine position, size, shape and composition of each particle. Usually more than 1000 inclusions are found on one scan area. Therefore a new offline evaluation method has been developed to classify the large amount of inclusions and calculate specific size and shape data. A summary sheet is created to show the area contents and the mean values of all important properties for each class. Size and XY distributions as well as binary and ternary phase diagrams are drawn to depict the results. The strengths of this analytical technique are demonstrated by evaluation of an LC (low-carbon) steel. Alumina, common spinel, sulfide and oxisulfide inclusions could be identified as dominant inclusion types in LC steel.     

Quantifying the measurement uncertainty of results from environmental analytical methods

The Eurachem-CITAC Guide Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurement was put into practice in a public laboratory devoted to environmental analytical measurements. In doing so due regard was given to the provisions of ISO 17025 and an attempt was made to base the entire estimation of measurement uncertainty on available data from the literature or from previously performed validation studies. Most environmental analytical procedures laid down in national or international standards are the result of cooperative efforts and put into effect as part of a compromise between all parties involved, public and private, that also encompasses environmental standards and statutory limits. Central to many procedures is the focus on the measurement of environmental effects rather than on individual chemical species. In this situation it is particularly important to understand the measurement process well enough to produce a realistic uncertainty statement. Environmental analytical methods will be examined as far as necessary, but reference will also be made to analytical methods in general and to physical measurement methods where appropriate. This paper describes ways and means of quantifying uncertainty for frequently practised methods of environmental analysis. It will be shown that operationally defined measurands are no obstacle to the estimation process as described in the Eurachem/CITAC Guide if it is accepted that the dominating component of uncertainty comes from the actual practice of the method as a reproducibility standard deviation.     

Statistical investigations of interferences in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy

Summary Interferences in the flameless determination of lead using the HGA 72 were studied for HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, HClO₄, HF and for a number of cations. In certain instances interferents in just 1000-fold concentration over lead are shown to cause deviations in the lead signal. Many of the interferences are matrix-dependent themselves and can be reduced by matrix variations. Optimization of the thermal pretreatment can be used effectively to reduce random error and/or systematic errors. The thermal stability of lead compounds in the graphite furnace was sufficient for charring procedures up to 900° C for 20 s.

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Statistische Untersuchungen über Störungen bei der flammenlosen Atomabsorptionsspektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Interferenzen, die bei der flammenlosen Bestimmung von Blei in der HGA 72 auftreten, wurden bei HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄, HClO₄, HF und einigen Kationen studiert. In gewissen Fällen reicht ein nur 1000 facher Überschuß des Störions, um Abweichungen vom Signal des Bleistandards hervorzurufen. Da das Auftreten von Interferenzen auch oft matrixabhängig ist, können Matrixvariationen zur Unterdrückung von Interferenzen eingesetzt werden. Die Optimierung des Temperaturprogrammes wird erfolgreich zur Beeinflussung des Zufallsfehlers und/ oder systematischer Fehler herangezogen. In der Graphitrohrküvette reichte die Stabilität der Bleiverbindung aus, um beim Veraschungsschritt die Temperatur bis auf 900° C (20 s) zu steigern.

Part I: Z. Anal. Chem. [13].Part II: Z. Anal. Chem. [14].     

The determination of arsenic at ng/g- andμg/g-levels in organic and biological matrices

Summary Three independent decomposition methods for organic matter are compared for use in the determination of arsenic by the hydride-AAS method. Matrix interferences in the arsine evolution cause systematic errors.

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Bestimmung von Arsen im ng/g- und g/g-Bereich in organischem und biologischem Material

Zusammenfassung Drei unabhängige Aufschlußmethoden zwecks Arsenbestimmung nach der Hydrid-Atomabsorptionsmethode wurden verglichen. Störungen seitens der Matrix bei der AsH₃-Entwicklung sind eine der Ursachen für systematische Fehler.

     

Self-avoiding walks on strongly diluted lattices: Chain-growth simulations vs. exact enumeration

We discuss and compare two different methods that can be used to investigate self-avoiding walks on lattices with random site dilution. One is the so-called pruned-enriched Rosenbluth method (PERM), a chain-growth Monte Carlo algorithm, the other is a recently developed exact enumeration technique. While the latter is highly efficient for systems close to the critical concentration, it cannot be used for less dilute systems. PERM is more versatile but appears to have difficulties coping with strong confinement.     

Cyclotron spin-wave in the 2D electron system

The cyclotron spin-wave mode of a two-dimensional electron system have been investigated by inelastic light scattering. It is observed at small electron filling factors, (v～0.1, when the electron system is spin-depolarized. As long as the electron system becomes fully spin-polarized (v>0.2), the cyclotron spin-wave disappears from the inelastic light scattering spectra. It reenters at electron filling factors v>1. Over the range of electron filling factors of 1<v<2, the cyclotron spin-wave energy is insensitive to both the experimentally accessible in-plane momenta and the electron concentration, whereas its inelastic light scattering efficiency is strongly influenced by the spin polarization of the electron system.     

Recognizing heterogeneous distribution of platinum group elements (PGE) in geological materials by means of the Re–Os isotope system

The identification of uncertainties caused by sample inhomogeneity, as distinct from those caused by sample preparation and measurement, is a challenging task. Use of chemometric methods to separate and estimate these contributions to the combined standard uncertainty of a measurement (u _c ) of an analytical result requires complex experiments. The difficulty of platinum group element measurement makes this task even more complex. But unless it can be demonstrated that sample inhomogeneity is the major contributor to the high variability of an analytical result one should be careful not to mistakenly attribute this to a nugget effect. In this contribution we are able to demonstrate in two special cases that irreproducible results (up to 90% RSD) for analysis of Os and Re in the pg g^–1 to ng g^–1 range are truly caused by a nugget effect and not by inadequacies of the analytical method.