Elemental analysis sensitivity

Only slightly less accurate ( 0.3—0.5%) and more versatile in scale are other titration techniques. Plutonium maybe oxidized in aqueous solution to PuO " 2 using AgO, and then reduced to Pu" " by a known excess of Fe", which is back-titrated with Ce" ". Pu" " may be titrated complexometricaHy with EDTA and a colorimetric indicator such as Arsenazo(I), even in the presence of a large excess of UO " 2- Solution spectrophotometry (Figs. 4 and 5) can be utilized if the plutonium oxidation state is known or controlled. The spectrophotometric method is very sensitive if a colored complex such as Arsenazo(III) is used. Analytically usehil absorption maxima and molar absorption coefficients ( s) are given in Table 10. Laser photoacoustic spectroscopy has been developed for both elemental analysis and speciation (oxidation state) at concentrations of lO " — 10 M (118). Chemical extraction can also be used to enhance this technique. 

Naiiow-line uv—vis spectia of free atoms, corresponding to transitions ia the outer electron shells, have long been employed for elemental analysis usiag both atomic absorption (AAS) and emission (AES) spectroscopy (159,160). Atomic spectroscopy is sensitive but destmctive, requiring vaporization and decomposition of the sample iato its constituent elements. Some of these techniques are compared, together with mass spectrometry, ia Table 4 (161,162). 

Ever brighter vacuum-ultraviolet sources are being developed that would further boost SPI sensitivity, which already is typically 10 useful yield general, sensitive elemental analysis would then also be available using SPI, making possible a single laser arrangement for both elemental and molecular SALE... 

ICP-AES and ICP-MS analyses are hampered in almost all cases by the occurrence of sample matrix effects. The origins of these effects are manifold, and have been traced partly to physical and chemical aerosol modifications inside sample introduction components (nebulisation effects). Matrix effects in ICP-AES may also be attributed to effects in the plasma, resulting from easily ionised elements and spectral background interferences (most important source of systematic errors). Atomic lines are usually more sensitive to matrix effects than are ionic lines. There exist several options to overcome matrix interferences in multi-element analysis by means of ICP-AES/MS, namely ... 

In AFS, the analyte is introduced into an atomiser (flame, plasma, glow discharge, furnace) and excited by monochromatic radiation emitted by a primary source. The latter can be a continuous source (xenon lamp) or a line source (HCL, EDL, or tuned laser). Subsequently, the fluorescence radiation is measured. In the past, AFS has been used for elemental analysis. It has better sensitivity than many atomic absorption techniques, and offers a substantially longer linear range. However, despite these advantages, it has not gained the widespread usage of atomic absorption or emission techniques. The problem in AFS has been to obtain a... 

The isotopic distribution of lead (IDMS) in shed teeth from children has been shown to be useful in studies of the history of exposure to lead, including the definition of the source of the exposure, e.g., mine dust vs. food (Gulson and Wilson 1994), so IDMS certainly has important applicability, if not for routine determinations. ICP/MS, however, is easier, more sensitive, allows for multi-element analysis, and provides isotopic data. 

The most commonly used methods for characterization of ruthenium sensitizers are elemental analysis, NMR, IR, Raman, UV-vis, and luminescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, HPLC, and X-ray crystallography. 

Again, AES spectra arise from core levels, hence are characteristic for a given element. Surface elemental analysis (except H and He) with very high sensitivity, able to detect < 1% of a monolayer. Usually employed first to check that the surface is free from contamination... 

Elimination of hydrogen halides from dihalogenoorganylboranes by reaction with ferrocene-1,1 -dithiol resulted in l,3-dithia-2-boryl[3]ferrocenophanes.170 These borylferrocenophanes were air sensitive, but were characterized by NMR, MS, and elemental analysis.170 A series of l,3-dibora-2-X-[3]fer-rocenophanes (X=S, Se, Te) were prepared and characterized and the crystal structure of [Se N Pr2)BC5Fl4 2Fe] has been reported.171... 

The chemical characterization of aerosol particles currently is of great interest in the field of atmospheric chemistry. A major goal is the development of a method for continuous elemental analysis of aerosols, especially for the elements C, N, and S. Chemiluminescence reactions described in this chapter have adequate sensitivity and selectivity for such analyses. In fact, considering that a 1- j.m-diameter particle has a mass of =0.5-1.0 pg, online analysis of single aerosol particles should be achievable, especially for larger particles. 

Electron probe microanalysis functions by direct examination of the primary X-rays produced when the specimen is used as a target for an electron beam. Focused electron beams allow a spot analysis of a 1 pm3 section of the specimen. One current development employs the electron beam within a scanning electron microscope to provide both a visual picture of the surface of the sample and an elemental analysis of the section being viewed. Spectra obtained from primary X-rays always have the characteristic emission peaks superimposed on a continuum of background radiation (Figure 8.32). This feature limits the precision, sensitivity and resolution of electron probe microanalysis. 

The actual analysis of the samples started with a qualitative survey to identify the principal metals present. ICP-AES was selected as being most suitable for this because it provided a permanent record, a multi-element analysis, and good sensitivity. Solutions of the shellfish tissue were prepared for analysis by wet oxidation, and the sediments were digested with 40% v/v... 

Klingelhofer, G. et al. 2008. The Advanced Miniaturised Mossbauer Spectrometer MIMOS lla Increased Sensitivity and New Capability for Elemental Analysis. Lunar and Planetary Science, 39, 2379. 

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