Direct trace analysis

Laser based mass spectrometric methods, such as laser ionization (LIMS) and laser ablation in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are powerful analytical techniques for survey analysis of solid substances. To realize the analytical performances methods for the direct trace analysis of synthetic and natural crystals modification of a traditional analytical technique was necessary and suitable standard reference materials (SRM) were required. Recent developments allowed extending the range of analytical applications of LIMS and LA-ICP-MS will be presented and discussed. For example ... 

E. Dijkman, D. Mooibroek, R. Hoogerbmgge, E. Hogendoom, J.-V. Sancho, O. Pozo, F. Hernandez, Study of matrix effects on the direct trace analysis of acidic pesticides in water using various LC modes coupled to MS-MS detection, J. Chromatogr. A, 926 (2001) 113. 

In some cases they are unsuitable for direct trace analysis in complex matrix samples, because of spectral and chemical interferences, or for studies on metal spe-ciation. Due to strong environmental impact, metal ion determination and speciation have been given significant attention in the last few years. 

It was established that at direct AAS analysis of based materials with SoST on account of agglomeration process and low rate evaporation trace amounts of As, Bi, Sb and Sn into zone of analytical signal formation the range of so-called effective temperature heating T ) has arranged by not... 

The first (direct reading) method is fairly simple and results are available immediately. However, the instruments have limited sensitivity and must be recalibrated periodically. The second (absorption in a liquid or adsorption on a medium) and third (gas container) methods are generally considered more sensitive and more accurate method for trace analysis by gas chromatographs, infrared... 

GC using chiral columns coated with derivatized cyclodextrin is the analytical technique most frequently employed for the determination of the enantiomeric ratio of volatile compounds. Food products, as well as flavours and fragrances, are usually very complex matrices, so direct GC analysis of the enantiomeric ratio of certain components is usually difficult. Often, the components of interest are present in trace amounts and problems of peak overlap may occur. The literature reports many examples of the use of multidimensional gas chromatography with a combination of a non-chiral pre-column and a chiral analytical column for this type of analysis. 

Figure 13.6 Direct RPLC analysis of a blank ground water sample spiked with 4.5 (p-g 1 ETU, (a) with and (b) without column-switching. A 60 X 4.6 mm i.d. column and a 150 X 4.6 mm i.d. column were used for C-1 and C-2, respectively, with pure water as M-1 and methanol-0.025 M ammonium acetate (pH, 7.5) (5 95, v/v) as M-2 S-1 and S-2 aie the interfering peaks. Reprinted from Chromatographia, 31, E. A. Hogendoom et at., Columnswitching RPLC for the trace-level determination of ethylenetlaiourea in aqueous samples , pp. 285-292, 1991, with permission from Vieweg Publishing.

Hot splitless WCOT 0.5 ppm (FID) without preconcentration Lower injection temperature than split Trace analysis Handles dirty samples Automation Flash vaporisation Optimisation required (splitless time, oven temperature, solvent) Limited number of solvents ( solvent effect ) Thermal degradation possible Discrimination possible Poor direct quantification Unsuitable for very polar substances... 

Difficult matrix introduction (DMI) is another recently introduced way of automating trace analysis in complex and dirty matrices [101]. The technique may be used for both liquid and dirty solid samples. In DMI a sample extract or sample matrix (solid) is introduced directly into a microvial in the injector. Volatiles are desorbed directly... 

Direct bulk trace analysis of both conducting and nonconducting sample materials (more problematic)... 

The extension of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry to seawater analysis has been slow for two major reasons. The first is that the concentrations of almost all trace metals of interest are 1 xg/l or less, below detection limits attainable with conventional pneumatic nebulisation. The second is that the seawater matrix, with some 3.5% dissolved solids, is not compatible with most of the sample introduction systems used with ICP. Thus direct multielemental trace analysis of seawater by ICP-AES is impractical, at least with pneumatic nebulisation. In view of this, a number of alternative strategies can be considered ... 

Complex matrixes typically cannot be analysed directly to obtain the selectivity and sensitivity required for most trace analysis applications. To circumvent this problem, solid-phase micro extraction techniques were used to preconcentrate analytes selectively prior to gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry analysis. 

Correlation Chromatography (CC) can be considered a typical example of an active or on-line chemometrie technique. Impossible without computers, it shows promising results in (ultra) trace analysis. This paper will describe two directions that utilize correlation techniques a semi-continuous kind of chromatography ( ) and an extension of the limit of detection in trace analysis ( 2 ). Correlation Chromatography will be shown to be a powerful method for application in (ultra) trace analysis. 

The first experiments directed to trace analysis were carried out in correlation gas chromatography ( 2 ). However, in the recent years much attention was paid to correlation HPLC, because the detection is generally more a problem than in GC and because injection is inherently easier. Results with a first experimental set-up and an off-line computer calculation of the CCF were very promising. 

C. Ambient Air Analysb. Trace analysis of toxic gases in the environment is receiving more emphasis by many industries. Some of the more polar gases are very difficult to analyze by gas chromatography. One example is monochloroacetyl chloride. This gas can be collected from the atmosphere on Silica gel, extracted in dilute sodium bicarbonate, and then analyzed directly by IC as monochloroacetic acid (10). A... 

Both compounds crystallize with the cadmium diiodide structure (space group P3ml) as previously reported on polycrystalline samples.3 For platinum disulfide, ao = 3.542(1) A and c0 = 5.043(1) A, and for platinum ditelluride, a0 = 4.023(1) A and c0 = 5.220(3) A. Direct chemical analysis for the component elements was not carried out. Instead, precision density and unit-cell determinations were performed to characterize the samples. The densities of both compounds as determined by a hydrostatic technique with heptadecafluorodeca-hydro-l-(trifluoromethyl)naphthalene as the density fluid4 indicated that they are slightly deficient in platinum. For platinum disulfide, = 7.86 g/cm3 and Pmeas = 7.7(1) gm/cm3, and for platinum ditelluride, p = 10.2 gm/cm3 and Pmeas = 9.8(1) gm/cm3. In a typical experiment an emission spectrum of the platinum disulfide showed that phosphorus was present in less than 5 ppm. A mass spectroscopic examination of the platinum ditelluride revealed a small doping by sulfur (less than 0.4%) and traces of chlorine and phosphorus (less than 100 ppm). 

To determine ions at mid pg/1 to mg/1 (ppb to ppm) levels with IC, a sample size of 10 to 50/pi is sufficient. To determine ions at lower levels, then a preconcentration or trace enrichment technique has t3rpically to be utilized [20]. With this method, the analytes of interest are preconcentrated on another column in order to "strip" ions from a measured sample volume. This process concentrates the desired species resulting in lower detection limits. However, preconcentration has several disadvantages, compared with a direct method, additional hardware is required. A concentrator column is used to preconcentrate the ions of interest, a sample pump is needed for loading sample, an additional valve is often required for switching the concentrator column in and out-of line with the analytical column and extra time is required for the preconcentration step. It was of interest to explore the development of a high-volume direct-injection IC method that would facilitate trace ion determinations without a separate preconcentration step. This would represent a significantly simpler and more reliable means of trace analysis. 

In summary, when using the indirect" technique for optical trace analysis, all of the points mentioned above have to be considered and have to be validated when setting up a standard operation procedure" (SOP), in order to conform to good laboratory practice (GLP) analysis methods. This means an extra work load compared with validation of the direct optical trace analysis procedure. Sometimes there is no way of getting round this so-called less elegant , more cumbersome and more error prone indirect technique. However, if it is performed correctly and judged critically, it is still a good method and should easily allow optical trace analysis down to 0.1% and lower. 

Derivatization After Desorption. Alkanolamines, highly polar basic compounds, present a difficult analytical problem. Although direct gas chromatographic separations can be achieved, this technique is not applicable to trace analysis due to sorption problems at trace concentrations. A derivatization/gas chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of alkanolamines in air as low as 100 ppb (54,55). The samples are collected on activated alumina and desorbed with an aqueous solution of 1-octanesulfonic acid. The... 

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