Determinations by Atomic Absorption

Taking into account the range of wavelength and the intensity of emission beams, certain elements cannot be determined by atomic absorption, such as C, H, 0, N, S, and the halogens. 

Description of Method. Copper and zinc are isolated by digesting tissue samples after extracting any fatty tissue. The concentration of copper and zinc in the supernatant are determined by atomic absorption using an air-acetylene flame. 

M HNO3. The concentration of Cu and Zn in the diluted supernatant is determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy using an air-acetylene flame and external standards. Copper is analyzed at a wavelength of 324.8 nm with a slit width of 0.5 nm, and zinc is analyzed at 213.9 nm with a slit width of 1.0 nm. Background correction is used for zinc. Results are reported as micrograms of Cu or Zn per gram of FFDT. 

The concentration of strontium in a sea water aquarium is determined by atomic absorption using the method of... 

Aqueous solutions buffered to a pH of 5.2 and containing known total concentrations of Zn + are prepared. A solution containing ammonium pyrrolidinecarbodithioate (APCD) is added along with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). The mixture is shaken briefly and then placed on a rotary shaker table for 30 min. At the end of the extraction period the aqueous and organic phases are separated and the concentration of zinc in the aqueous layer determined by atomic absorption. The concentration of zinc in the organic phase is determined by difference and the equilibrium constant for the extraction calculated. 

The %w/w lead in a lead-based paint Standard Reference Material and in unknown paint chips is determined by atomic absorption using external standards. 

Samples of animal bones weighing approximately 3 g are ashed at 600 °C until the entire bone is ash-white. Samples are then crushed in a mortar and pestle. A portion of the sample is digested in HCl and diluted to a known volume. The concentrations of zinc and strontium are determined by atomic absorption. The analysis for strontium illustrates the use of a protecting agent as La(N03)3 is added to prevent an interference due to the formation of refractory strontium phosphate. 

Rubidium metal is commeicially available in essentially two grades, 99 + % and 99.9 + %. The main impurities ate other alkali metals. Rubidium compounds are available in a variety of grades from 99% to 99.99 + %. Manufacturers and suppliers of mbidium metal and mbidium compounds usually supply a complete certificate of analysis upon request. Analyses of metal impurities in mbidium compounds are determined by atomic absorption or inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy (icp). Other metallic impurities, such as sodium and potassium, are determined by atomic absorption or emission spectrograph. For analysis, mbidium metal is converted to a compound such as mbidium chloride. 

Selenium. Selenium is determined by atomic absorption after the organoselenides are broken down with acidic persulfate and all forms of selenium have been converted to H2Se. The reduction is brought about in acidic solution of KI—SnCl2 or borohydride, and H2Se is generated by addition... 

On the basis of data obtained the possibility of substrates distribution and their D-values prediction using the regressions which consider the hydrophobicity and stmcture of amines was investigated. The hydrophobicity of amines was estimated by the distribution coefficient value in the water-octanole system (Ig P). The molecular structure of aromatic amines was characterized by the first-order molecular connectivity indexes ( x)- H was shown the independent and cooperative influence of the Ig P and parameters of amines on their distribution. Evidently, this fact demonstrates the host-guest phenomenon which is inherent to the organized media. The obtained in the research data were used for optimization of the conditions of micellar-extraction preconcentrating of metal ions with amines into the NS-rich phase with the following determination by atomic-absorption method. 

Pretreatment of the collected particulate matter may be required for chemical analysis. Pretreatment generally involves extraction of the particulate matter into a liquid. The solution may be further treated to transform the material into a form suitable for analysis. Trace metals may be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), emission spectroscopy, polarogra-phy, and anodic stripping voltammetry. Analysis of anions is possible by colorimetric techniques and ion chromatography. Sulfate (S04 ), sulfite (SO-, ), nitrate (NO3 ), chloride Cl ), and fluoride (F ) may be determined by ion chromatography (15). 

Magnesium may conveniently be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Section 21.21) if a smaller amount (ca 4 mg) is used for the separation. Collect the magnesium effluent in a 1 L graduated flask, dilute to the mark with de-ionised water and aspirate the solution into the flame of an atomic absorption spectrometer. Calibrate the instrument using standard magnesium solutions covering the range 2 to 8 ppm. 

Theory. Conventional anion and cation exchange resins appear to be of limited use for concentrating trace metals from saline solutions such as sea water. The introduction of chelating resins, particularly those based on iminodiacetic acid, makes it possible to concentrate trace metals from brine solutions and separate them from the major components of the solution. Thus the elements cadmium, copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc are selectively retained by the resin Chelex-100 and can be recovered subsequently for determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.45 To enhance the sensitivity of the AAS procedure the eluate is evaporated to dryness and the residue dissolved in 90 per cent aqueous acetone. The use of the chelating resin offers the advantage over concentration by solvent extraction that, in principle, there is no limit to the volume of sample which can be used. 

In the illustrative experiment described here, copper(II) ions in a brine solution are concentrated from 0.1 to about 3.3 ppm prior to determination by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 

Methods. As discussed in the previous chapter, a number of approaches have been used to assess the presence of potentially toxic trace elements in water. The approaches used in this assessment include comparative media evaluation, a human health and aquatic life guidelines assessment, a mass balance evaluation, probability plots, and toxicity bioassays. Concentrations of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry according to standard methods (21,22) by the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Geological Survey. 

In patients on EDTA therapy, calcium cannot be determined by the Indirect colorimetric or fluorometrlc methods based on the chelation of a calcium - EDTA complex. However, In calcium determinations by atomic-absorption spectroscopy, the complexlng agent Is destroyed In the flame and the direct concentration of calcium can be determined. 

Iron was present as Fe " in the calcined precursors. For all the catalysts the reduction procedure described in Sec. 2.1 resulted in incomplete reduction of the Fe to metallic iron. This is in agreement with the findings of previous authors [6,11]. The individual percentage reductions of Fe to Fe°, as determined by the separate gravimetric and volumetric measurements (Sec. 2.2), are shown in Table 1. The values are calculated on the assumption that all the Fe is reduced to Fe prior to the onset of reduction to Fe°. There is good agreement between the two methods. Table 1 also records the actual Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio in the catalysts as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) on the calcined precursors. 

Subscripts represent theoretical % in weight of cation Determined by atomic absorption and CPS. 

V0x/Zr02 catalysts were designated as ZVx(y)pHz, where x gives the analytical vanadium content (weight percent), y specifies the preparation method (a, adsorption, i, impregnation or acac, acetylacetonate) and z the AV solution pH. The V-content was determined by atomic absorption (Varian Spectra AA-30) after the sample had been dissolved in a concentrated (40%) HF solution. 

Pd content was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy at 247.6 nm with an air-acetylene flame. 

The Cr203 content of each catalyst was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Varian/Spectr AA-20 plus) on acid-digested samples. Total surface areas were determined by a single point BET method (nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77.5 K) using a mixture of 29.7% N2 in helium. Samples were wet-loaded into the flow tube and dried at 423 K in a hydrogen flow for 15 minutes and then for another 30 minutes at 513 K before cooling in helium. 

Even with the simple laboratory equipment used in these experiments, the CESS procedure allowed quantitative recovery of the product free of solvent, and with rhodium contents ranging from 0.36-1.94 ppm (determined by atomic absorption measurements). Furthermore, using this approach removal of unreacted starting material or side products from the product is possible during extraction from the catalyst, since even small structural differences can result in significant differences in... 

Sturgeon et al. [59] have described a hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry method for the determination of antimony in seawater. The method uses formation of stibene using sodium borohydride. Stibine gas was trapped on the surface of a pyrolytic graphite coated tube at 250 °C and antimony determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. An absolute detection limit of 0.2 ng was obtained and a concentration detection limit of 0.04 pg/1 obtained for 5 ml sample volumes. 

Howard and Comber [63] converted arsenic in seawater to its hydride prior to determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. 

Mullins [ 189] has described a procedure for determining the concentrations of dissolved chromium species in seawater. Chromium (III) and chromium (VI) separated by coprecipitation with hydrated iron (III) oxide and total dissolved chromium are determined separately by conversion to chromium (VI), extraction with ammonium pyrrolidine diethyl dithiocarbamate into methyl isobutyl ketone, and determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The detection limit is 40 ng/1 Cr. The dissolved chromium not amenable to separation and direct extraction is calculated by difference. In the waters investigated, total concentrations were relatively high, (1-5 pg/1), with chromium (VI) the predominant species in all areas sampled with one exception, where organically bound chromium was the major species. 

A hanging mercury drop electrodeposition technique has been used [297] for a carbon filament flameless atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of copper in seawater. In this method, copper is transferred to the mercury drop in a simple three-electrode cell (including a counterelectrode) by electrolysis for 30 min at -0.35 V versus the SCE. After electrolysis, the drop is rinsed and transferred directly to a prepositioned water-cooled carbon-filament atomiser, and the mercury is volatilised by heating the filament to 425 °C. Copper is then atomised and determined by atomic absorption. The detection limit is 0.2 pg copper per litre simulated seawater. 

In contrast, the coupling of electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, e.g., electrodeposition of a metal followed by detection by atomic absorption spectrometry, has received limited attention. Wire filaments, graphite rods, pyrolytic graphite tubes, and hanging drop mercury electrodes have been tested [383-394] for electrochemical preconcentration of the analyte to be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. However, these ex situ preconcentration methods are often characterised by unavoidable irreproducibility, contaminations arising from handling of the support, and detection limits unsuitable for lead detection at sub-ppb levels. 

Graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, although element-selective and highly sensitive, is currently unable to directly determine manganese at the lower end of their reported concentration ranges in open ocean waters. Techniques that have been successfully employed in recent environmental investigations have thus used a preliminary step to concentrate the analyte and separate it from the salt matrix prior to determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. 

A limited amount of work has been carried out on the determination of molybdenum in seawater by atomic absorption spectrometry and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry [ 137,502], In a recommended procedure [503], a 50 ml sample of seawater at pH 2.5 is passed through a column of 0.5 g p-aminobcnzylccllulosc, then the column is left in contact with 1 M ammonium carbonate for 3 h, after which three 5 ml fractions are collected. Finally, molybdenum is determined by atomic absorption at 313.2 nm using the hot graphite rod technique. At the 10 mg/1 level, the standard deviation was 0.13 pg. 

The vanadium eluate was slowly evaporated under an infrared lamp, the residue dissolved in 6 M hydrochloric acid (10 ml) containing 1 ml of the aluminium chloride solution [603], and vanadium was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. For calibration, suitable standard solutions were aspirated before and after each batch of samples. 

A method described by Hirata and Honda [618] uses a flow injection analysis manifold for pH adjustment of a seawater sample, followed by concentration of zinc on a column packed with Chelex 100 resin. The zinc was eluted with nitric acid and determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limit is 0.5 p,g/l and the relative standard deviation is 2.7% at the 10 ig/l level. 

Rodionova and Ivanov [667] used chelate extraction in the determination of copper, bismuth, lead, cadmium, and zinc in seawater. The metal complexes of diethyl and dithiophosphates are extracted in carbon tetrachloride prior to determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. 

Berndt et al. [740] have shown that traces of bismuth, cadmium, copper, cobalt, indium, nickel, lead, thallium, and zinc could be separated from samples of seawater, mineral water, and drinking water by complexation with the ammonium salt of pyrrolidine- 1-dithiocarboxylic acid, followed by filtration through a filter covered with a layer of active carbon. Sample volumes could range from 100 ml to 10 litres. The elements were dissolved in nitric acid and then determined by atomic absorption or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. 

Gagnon [203] has described a rapid and sensitive AAS method developed from the work of Crisp et al. [200] for the determination of anionic detergents at the ppb level in natural waters. The method is based on determination by atomic absorption spectrometry using the bis(ethylene-diamine) copper (II) ion. The method is suitable for detergent concentrations up to 50 ig/l but it can be extended up to 15 mg/1. The limit of detection is 0.31 ig/1. 

Torres 112> has separated indium from urine by ion exchange chromatography prior to determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy. 

A chloric acid digestion was used by Backer 2 391 for the preparation of tissue samples. The digest is simply diluted to determine iron, zinc, and copper. The tantalum sampling boat technique was used by Emmermann and Luecke 2531 to measure lead, zinc, and silver in prepared soil solutions. White 1S81 treated ashed plants with hydroxylamine in IN hydrochloric acid to reduce and dissolve oxides of manganese, prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy. 

Of particular concern in this analysis is sodium because it destroys soil structure, is associated with increased soil pH, and can be toxic to plants. Sodium can easily be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), flame ionization spectroscopy (FIS), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) methods. Soil structure is discussed in Chapter 2 and the various spectroscopic methods discussed in Chapter 14. 

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