Sequential determination of platinum, ruthenium, and molybdenum in carbon-supported Pt, PtRu, and PtMo catalysts by atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple accurate and precise analytical method for the determination of platinum, ruthenium, and molybdenum in Pt, PtRu, and PtMo nanoparticles catalysts deposited on high-surface area carbon by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is described. The complete digestion of samples (0.010-0.020 g), which contain noble metals (NMs) in the range between 0 and 30% in combination among them or with other non-NMs, is obtained under mild conditions using both concentrated HCl and HCl+HNO₃ (1+1 (v/v)) mixture to boiling for 30 min in an open vessel. Carbon is separated from the solution by filtering it. Under optimized conditions of the flame, the poor sensitivity of platinum is enhanced 50-fold in presence of 1% (m V⁻¹) ascorbic acid, whereas the analytical signal of ruthenium increased by the presence of co-existing platinum. Any kind of interference is observed on the analytical signal of molybdenum. Recovery test obtained by analyzing commercial powder catalysts ranged from 99 to 101%. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation of five measurements, is better than 1%. Electrode catalysts, made by using the carbon-supported platinum-based powder catalysts, have been analyzed for the metal loadings onto the electrode by GFAAS after dissolution under the same conditions used for the powder catalysts. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation of three measurements, is better than 2%.