Analysis of Soils and Sediments

Welz et al. [151] investigated in detail the determination of thallium in marine sediment reference materials, a particularly complex topic, because of the volatility of TlCl, and the various spectral interferences that could be observed in the vicinity of the T1 line (refer to Section 8.2.1). The authors had previously investigated this using direct analysis of solid samples and Zeeman-effect BC [142], however they only succeeded in obtaining reliable results when ruthenium was used as permanent modifier, and a solution of ammonium nitrate was pipetted on top of the solid sample as an additional modifier. Method development turned out to be much easier in HR-CS AAS, and the spectral interference due to the sulfur content of the sediments could be completely removed using least-squares BC (refer to Section 8.2.1). 

Silva et al. [131] investigated the determination of lead in soil and sediment slurries with ruthenium permanent modifier using LS AAS and HR-CS AAS, and comparing the analytical lines at 217.001 nm and 283.306 nm. It is well known that the former line provides about two-times higher sensitivity, but it is rarely used in conventional LS AAS because of its inferior SNR, its shorter linear working range, and its higher susceptibility 

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Analysis of soils and sediments is typically performed with aqueous extraction followed by headspace analysis or the purge-and-trap methods described above. Comparison of these two methods has found them equally suited for on-site analysis of soils (Hewitt et al. 1992). The major limitation of headspace analysis has been incomplete desorption of trichloroethylene from the soil matrix, although this was shown to be alleviated by methanol extraction (Pavlostathis and Mathavan 1992). 

Entwistle, J. A. and P. W. Abrahams (1997), Multi-element analysis of soils and sediments from Scottish historical sites. The potential of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for rapid site investigation, /. Archaeol. Sci. 24, 407-416. 

Namiesnik et al. [33] have reviewed the analysis of soils and sediments for organic contaminants. They discuss methods of sample preparation and isolation-preconcentration prior to instrumental determination. Compound classes discussed include volatile organic compounds, polychlorobiphenyls, polyaromatic compounds, pesticides and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans. 

Considering these conclusions, it is apparent that, destructive analysis still has a place in the analysis of soils and sediments—and for this very reason, we should correlate the necessary knowledge so as to simplify as much as possible the analytical process. Such an action is necessary in order to shorten the analysis time. 

Pye, K. and Croft, D. (2007). Forensic analysis of soil and sediment traces by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis An experimental investigation. Forensic Sci. Int. 165, 52-63. 

At the present time the technique of forming the volatile hydrides of certain elements (Ge, Sn, As, Sb, Bi, Se and Te), as a method of separation and rapid introduction of these elements into an atomiser (flame or hot tube), has had little impact in applied geochemistry. A few applications have been reported but are not yet widely used despite the very low detection limits which are obtainable. The main problems with the method are an abundance of interference effects, mainly from transition elements, and short linear calibration ranges. However Bedard and Kerbyson [4, 5] have shown that it is possible to separate in advance traces of As, Sb, Bi, Se and Te from pure copper, (the most serious interferer) by co-precipitating the elements on lanthanum hydroxide. It has further been shown that this precipitation method is applicable to the majority of interfering elements, and can be adapted to provide a rapid large batch method suitable for geochemical analysis of soil and sediment [6]. 

Figure 5.17 Procedure adopted in the single extraction method for metals (employing EDTA), as applied to the analysis of soils and sediments.

The first approach is an analysis of soils and sediments from many different locations. Since one facet of source determination is to distinguish between anthropogenic and natural contributions, it is desirable... 

The position of ICP-AES among other instrumental techniques for trace analysis is well established. Although instrumentation is still developing it is more in respect to reduce laborious introductions of dilferent types of corrections than increase the quality of analysis. As an interesting example in this respect a comparison of ICP-AES analysis of soil and sediment standard reference materials done in 1985 (Liese, 1985a) and 1998 (Leivuori, 1998) may be done. In 1985 the content of 21 elements in IAEA soil, five and 19 elements in IAEA SL-1 has been determined after introduction of two type of corrections. The accuracy was 0.1-18% and precision below 10%. In 1998 in a sediment standard reference material (NIST-SRM-2704 - Buffalo River Sediment) ten elements were determined (for the rest of the elements in this study ETAAS is preferred) with accuracy of 0.1-16% and precision below 10%. The same result is obtained if a comparison of analysis of plant standard reference materials is done (Liese, 1985a Kos et al., 1996 Djingova et al., 1998). 

Wolf, R. Denoyer, E. Sodowski, C. Grosser, Z. RCRA SW-846 Method 6020 for the ICP-MS Analysis of Soils and Sediments, Application Note ENVA-301 PerkinElmer Life and Anal3fti-cal Sciences, Shelton, CT, January 1996. 

ANALYSIS OF SOIL AND SEDIMENT 7.4.1 iHERMAt DiSTIttATION-PYROtYSIS-GC... 

Baker, S. A., Bi, M., Aucelio, R. Q., and Smith, B. W. (1999). Analysis of soil and sediment samples by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.J. Amt. At. Spec-trom. 14(1), 19. 

Alexiades, C. A., and M. L. Jackson, 1966. Quantitative clay mineralogical analysis of soils and sediments. Clays Clay Min, 14 35-52. 

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