Atomic absorption spectrometry sample preparation

The complex of the following destmctive and nondestmctive analytical methods was used for studying the composition of sponges inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Techniques of sample preparation were developed for each method and their metrological characteristics were defined. Relative standard deviations for all the elements did not exceed 0.25 within detection limit. The accuracy of techniques elaborated was checked with the method of additions and control methods of analysis. 

The collection behaviour of chromium species was examined as follows. Seawater (400 ml) spiked with 10-8 M Crm, CrVI, and Crm organic complexes labelled with 51Cr was adjusted to the desired pH by hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. An appropriate amount of hydrated iron (III) or bismuth oxide was added the oxide precipitates were prepared separately and washed thoroughly with distilled water before use [200]. After about 24 h, the samples were filtered on 0.4 pm nucleopore filters. The separated precipitates were dissolved with hydrochloric acid, and the solutions thus obtained were used for /-activity measurements. In the examination of solvent extraction, chromium was measured by using 51Cr, while iron and bismuth were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The decomposition of organic complexes and other procedures were also examined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. 

For example, the industrial preparation of mineral acids, such as sulfuric, hydrochloric and nitric, inevitably leads to them containing small concentrations of metals as impurities. If the acid is to be used purely as an acid in a simple reaction, the presence of small amounts of metals is probably unimportant. If, however, the acid is to be used to digest a sample for the determination of trace metals by atomic absorption spectrometry, then clearly the presence of metallic impurities in the acid may have a significant effect on the results. For this latter application, high-purity acids that are essentially metal-free are required. 

Techniques for analysis of different mercury species in biological samples and abiotic materials include atomic absorption, cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry, gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Lansens etal. 1991 Schintu etal. 1992 Porcella etal. 1995). Methylmercury concentrations in marine biological tissues are detected at concentrations as low as 10 pg Hg/kg tissue using graphite furnace sample preparation techniques and atomic absorption spectrometry (Schintu et al. 1992). 

A sample of CBI ceramic aggregate was prepared for elemental analysis by initially evaporating the sample to dryness in a mixture of concentrated hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids. The residue was then dissolved in hydrochloric acid and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Table 3 presents these results, and corresponding data from TTLC analyses of unfired and fired samples of the same material. 

Until now, little attention has been given to the analysis of ancient copper alloys with LA-ICP-MS. This type of material is usually analyzed with fast or instrumental neutron activation analysis (FNAA or INAA), particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma-atomic absorption spectrometry (ICP-AES or ICP-AAS). Some of these techniques are destructive and involve extensive sample preparation, some measure only surface compositions, and some require access to a cyclotron or a reactor. LA-ICP-MS is riot affected by any of these inconveniences. We propose here an analytical protocol for copper alloys using LA-ICP-MS and present its application to the study of Matisse bronze sculptures. 

Ross et al. [6] analysed samples of soil leachates from laboratory columns and of soil pore water from field porous cup lysimeters for aluminium by atomic absorption spectrometry under two sets of instrumental conditions. Method 1 employed uncoated graphite tubes and wall atomisation method 2 employed a graphite furnace with a pyrolytically coated platform and tubes. Aluminium standards were prepared and calibration curves used for the colorimetric quantification of aluminium. Method 1 gave results which compared favourably with method 2 in terms of both sensitivity and interference reduction for samples containing 1-15 uM aluminium. 

This chapter presents a rationale for the use of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) for trace element analysis of air samples, and a comparison with other analytical methods currently in use. Sampling techniques, sample preparation and analytical methods, and applications to workplace and ambient atmospheres are also discussed. Step-by-step procedures will be given which can be used to analyze air-filter samples for a broad spectrum of possible analytes. 

Detection techniques of high sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of coupling with sample preparation procedures are of special interest for measuring PGM content in biological and environmental samples. ICP MS, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS), adsorptive voltammetry (AV), and neutron activation analysis (NAA) have fotmd the widest applications, both for direct determination of the total metal content in the examined samples and for coupling with instrumental separation techniques. Mass spectrometry coupled with techniques such as electrospray ionization (ESI) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) (e.g., ESI MS", LC ESI MS", LC ICP MS, CE MS", and CE ICP MS) offer powerful potential for speciation analysis of metals. MS is widely used for examination of the distribution of the metals in various materials (elemental analysis) and for elucidation of the... 

Analysis of Particles by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Various methods of sample preparation were attempted to solubilize the... 

Many researchers have attempted to determine mercury levels in the blood, urine, tissues, and hair of humans and animals. Most methods have used atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), or neutron activation analysis (NAA). In addition, methods based on mass spectrometry (MS), spectrophotometry, and anodic stripping voltametry (ASV) have also been tested. Of the available methods, cold vapor (CV) AAS is the most widely used. In most methods, mercury in the sample is reduced to the elemental state. Some methods require predigestion of the sample prior to reduction. At all phases of sample preparation and analysis, the possibility of contamination from mercury found naturally in the environment must be considered. Rigorous standards to prevent mercury contamination must be followed. Table 6-1 presents details of selected methods used to determine mercury in biological samples. Methods have been developed for the analysis of mercury in breath samples. These are based on AAS with either flameless (NIOSH 1994) or cold vapor release of the sample to the detection chamber (Rathje et al. 1974). Flameless AAS is the NIOSH-recommended method of determining levels of mercury in expired air (NIOSH 1994). No other current methods for analyzing breath were located. 

Many of the analytical methods for detecting vanadium in biological samples have also been used to measure vanadium in environmental samples. They are detailed in Table 6-2. These include GFAAS, spectrophotometry, IDMS, and ICP-AES. Other techniques employed for measuring vanadium in environmental samples are flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and direct current plasma- atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES). The most widely used methods utilize some modification of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In general, similar methods are employed for preparation and clean up of environmental and biological samples prior to quantification of vanadium (see Section 6.1). 

To investigate the content of heavy metals approximately 3 g of each investigated sample were prepared by chemical pulping with nitrohydrochloric acid in accordance to the DIN-norm 38414, part 7. The concentration of selected heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn) are determined by atom absorption spectrometry with ICP-OES, AAS-FIMS or HGA-AAS -system (Perkin Elmer, Optima 2000 DV). 

Spectrometric methods require a prior sampling preparation containing a separation step. The separation step is necessary especially to eliminate interference. Nonspectral interferences in flame atomic absorption spectrometry can be overcome by using a calibration model.221 The model uses two independent variables for analyte quantification (the amount of the sample and the amount of analyte added) the measured absorbance is the dependent variable. To control the matrix interferences without prior knowledge of the matrix composition, it is necessary to carry out nine calibration points to obtain accurate analytical information. This confers high reliability of the analytical information for determination of trace elements in complex matrices. 

Kotz etal. (1972, Decomposition of biological materials for the determination of extremely low contents of trace elements in limited amounts with nitric acid under pressure in a Teflon tube) Hartstein et al. (1973, Novel wet-digestion procedure for trace-metal analysis of coal by atomic absorption) Jackson etal. (1978), Automated digestion and extraction apparatus for use in the determination of trace metals in foodstuffs) Campos etal. (1990, Combustion and volatilization of solid samples for direct atomic absorption spectrometry using silica or nickel tube furnace atomizers) Erber et al. (1994, The Wickbold combustion method for the determination of mercury under statistical aspects) and Woit-tiez and Sloof (1994, Sampling and sample preparation). 

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