Sampling matrix

The goal of an analytical separation is to remove either the analyte or the interferent from the sample matrix. To achieve a separation there must be at least one significant difference between the chemical or physical properties of the analyte and interferent. Relying on chemical or physical properties, however, presents a fundamental problem—a separation also requires selectivity. A separation that completely removes an interferent may result in the partial loss of analyte. Altering the separation to minimize the loss of analyte, however, may leave behind some of the interferent. 

Particulate interferents can be separated from dissolved analytes by filtration, using a filter whose pore size retains the interferent. This separation technique is important in the analysis of many natural waters, for which the presence of suspended solids may interfere in the analysis. Filtration also can be used to isolate analytes present as solid particulates from dissolved ions in the sample matrix. For example, this is a necessary step in gravimetry, in which the analyte is isolated as a precipitate. A more detailed description of the types of available filters is found in the discussion of precipitation gravimetry and particulate gravimetry in Chapter 8. 

Finally, in particulate gravimetry the analyte is determined following its removal from the sample matrix by filtration or extraction. The determination of suspended solids is one example of particulate gravimetry. 

Attenuation of radiation as it passes through the sample leads to a transmittance of less than 1. As described, equation 10.1 does not distinguish between the different ways in which the attenuation of radiation occurs. Besides absorption by the analyte, several additional phenomena contribute to the net attenuation of radiation, including reflection and absorption by the sample container, absorption by components of the sample matrix other than the analyte, and the scattering of radiation. To compensate for this loss of the electromagnetic radiation s power, we use a method blank (Figure 10.20b). The radiation s power exiting from the method blank is taken to be Pq. 

The analysis of clinical samples is often complicated by the complexity of the sample matrix, which may contribute a significant background absorption at the desired wavelength. The determination of serum barbiturates provides one example of how this problem is overcome. The barbiturates are extracted from a sample of serum with CHCI3, and extracted from the CHCI3 into 0.45 M NaOH (pH 13). The absorbance of the aqueous extract is measured at 260 nm and includes contributions from the barbiturates as well as other components extracted from the serum sample. The pH of the sample is then lowered to approximately 10 by adding NH4CI, and the absorbance remeasured. Since the barbiturates do not absorb at this pH, the absorbance at pH 10 is used to correct the absorbance at pH 13 thus... 

In atomic absorption spectroscopy, the correction of the net absorbance from that due to the sample matrix. 

The matrix for the standards and the blank should match that of the samples thus, an appropriate matrix is 0.75 M HNO3. Any interferences from other components of the sample matrix are minimized by background correction. 

Another form of radiationless relaxation is internal conversion, in which a molecule in the ground vibrational level of an excited electronic state passes directly into a high vibrational energy level of a lower energy electronic state of the same spin state. By a combination of internal conversions and vibrational relaxations, a molecule in an excited electronic state may return to the ground electronic state without emitting a photon. A related form of radiationless relaxation is external conversion in which excess energy is transferred to the solvent or another component in the sample matrix. 

A form of radiationless relaxation in which energy is transferred to the solvent or sample matrix. 

Standardizing the Method Equations 10.32 and 10.33 show that the intensity of fluorescent or phosphorescent emission is proportional to the concentration of the photoluminescent species, provided that the absorbance of radiation from the excitation source (A = ebC) is less than approximately 0.01. Quantitative methods are usually standardized using a set of external standards. Calibration curves are linear over as much as four to six orders of magnitude for fluorescence and two to four orders of magnitude for phosphorescence. Calibration curves become nonlinear for high concentrations of the photoluminescent species at which the intensity of emission is given by equation 10.31. Nonlinearity also may be observed at low concentrations due to the presence of fluorescent or phosphorescent contaminants. As discussed earlier, the quantum efficiency for emission is sensitive to temperature and sample matrix, both of which must be controlled if external standards are to be used. In addition, emission intensity depends on the molar absorptivity of the photoluminescent species, which is sensitive to the sample matrix. 

Sensitivity Sensitivity in flame atomic emission is strongly influenced by the temperature of the excitation source and the composition of the sample matrix. Normally, sensitivity is optimized by aspirating a standard solution and adjusting the flame s composition and the height from which emission is monitored until the emission intensity is maximized. Chemical interferences, when present, decrease the sensitivity of the analysis. With plasma emission, sensitivity is less influenced by the sample matrix. In some cases, for example, a plasma calibration curve prepared using standards in a matrix of distilled water can be used for samples with more complex matrices. 

In most quantitative analyses we are interested in determining the concentration, not the activity, of the analyte. As noted earlier, however, the electrode s response is a function of the analyte s activity. In the absence of interferents, a calibration curve of potential versus activity is a straight line. A plot of potential versus concentration, however, may be curved at higher concentrations of analyte due to changes in the analyte s activity coefficient. A curved calibration curve may still be used to determine the analyte s concentration if the standard s matrix matches that of the sample. When the exact composition of the sample matrix is unknown, which often is the case, matrix matching becomes impossible. 

Quantitative Analysis Using the Method of Standard Additions Because of the difficulty of maintaining a constant matrix for samples and standards, many quantitative potentiometric methods use the method of standard additions. A sample of volume, Vx) and analyte concentration, Cx, is transferred to a sample cell, and the potential, (ficell)x) measured. A standard addition is made by adding a small volume, Vs) of a standard containing a known concentration of analyte, Cs, to the sample, and the potential, (ficell)s) measured. Provided that Vs is significantly smaller than Vx, the change in sample matrix is ignored, and the analyte s activity coefficient remains constant. Example 11.7 shows how a one-point standard addition can be used to determine the concentration of an analyte. 

Selecting a Constant Potential In controlled-potential coulometry, the potential is selected so that the desired oxidation or reduction reaction goes to completion without interference from redox reactions involving other components of the sample matrix. To see how an appropriate potential for the working electrode is selected, let s develop a constant-potential coulometric method for Cu + based on its reduction to copper metal at a Pt cathode working electrode. 

Source Compiled from Rechnitz, G. A. Controlled-Potential Analysis. Macmillan New York, 1963, p. 49. Electrolytic reactions are written in terms of the change in oxidation state. The actual species in solution depend on the composition of the sample matrix. 

Miscellaneous Methods At the beginning of this section we noted that kinetic methods are susceptible to significant errors when experimental variables affecting the reaction s rate are difficult to control. Many variables, such as temperature, can be controlled with proper instrumentation. Other variables, such as interferents in the sample matrix, are more difficult to control and may lead to significant errors. Although not discussed in this text, direct-computation and curve-fitting methods have been developed that compensate for these sources of error. ... 

Spike recoveries for samples are used to detect systematic errors due to the sample matrix or the stability of the sample after its collection. Ideally, samples should be spiked in the field at a concentration between 1 and 10 times the expected concentration of the analyte or 5 to 50 times the method s detection limit, whichever is larger. If the recovery for a field spike is unacceptable, then a sample is spiked in the laboratory and analyzed immediately. If the recovery for the laboratory spike is acceptable, then the poor recovery for the field spike may be due to the sample s deterioration during storage. When the recovery for the laboratory spike also is unacceptable, the most probable cause is a matrix-dependent relationship between the analytical signal and the concentration of the analyte. In this case the samples should be analyzed by the method of standard additions. Typical limits for acceptable spike recoveries for the analysis of waters and wastewaters are shown in Table 15.1. ... 

Sources of Error. pH electrodes are subject to fewer iaterfereaces and other types of error than most potentiometric ionic-activity sensors, ie, ion-selective electrodes (see Electro analytical techniques). However, pH electrodes must be used with an awareness of their particular response characteristics, as weU as the potential sources of error that may affect other components of the measurement system, especially the reference electrode. Several common causes of measurement problems are electrode iaterferences and/or fouling of the pH sensor, sample matrix effects, reference electrode iastabiHty, and improper caHbration of the measurement system (12). 

Sample Matrix Solid-phase column Detectabifitv, ng/mL Ref. 

Numerous high pressure Hquid chromatographic techniques have been reported for specific sample forms vegetable oHs (55,56), animal feeds (57,58), seta (59,60), plasma (61,62), foods (63,64), and tissues (63). Some of the methods requite a saponification step to remove fats, to release tocopherols from ceHs, and/or to free tocopherols from their esters. AH requite an extraction step to remove the tocopherols from the sample matrix. The methods include both normal and reverse-phase hplc with either uv absorbance or fluorescence detection. AppHcation of supercritical fluid (qv) chromatography has been reported for analysis of tocopherols in marine oHs (65). 

Immobilized Enzymes. The immobilized enzyme electrode is the most common immobilized biopolymer sensor, consisting of a thin layer of enzyme immobilized on the surface of an electrochemical sensor as shown in Figure 6. The enzyme catalyzes a reaction that converts the target substrate into a product that is detected electrochemicaHy. The advantages of immobilized enzyme electrodes include minimal pretreatment of the sample matrix, small sample volume, and the recovery of the enzyme for repeated use (49). Several reviews and books have been pubHshed on immobilized enzyme electrodes (50—52). 

Standards used to constmct a cahbration curve must be prepared such that the matrix of the standard is identical to the sample s matrix because the values of the parameters k and b associated with a linear cahbration curve are matrix dependent. Many areas of chemical analysis are plagued by matrix effects, and it is often difficult to duphcate the sample matrix when preparing external standards. Because it is desirable to eliminate matrix effects, cahbration in the sample matrix itself can be performed. This approach is called the standard addition method (SAM) (14). In this method, the standards are added to the sample matrix and the response of the analyte plus the standard is monitored as a function of the added amount of the standard. The initial response is assumed to be Rq, and the relationship between the response and the concentration of the analyte is... 

The PLS calibration set was built mixing in an agate mortar different amounts of Mancozeb standard with kaolin, a coadjuvant usually formulated in agrochemicals. Cluster analysis was employed for sample classification and to select the adequate PLS model acording with the characteristics of the sample matrix and the presence of other components. 

In order to select the instmmental conditions for carrying out the ATR measurements several parameters including the number of accumulated scans per spectra or nominal resolution were tested. To avoid the crosscontamination and to establish an appropriate strategy for cleaning the ATR cell between samples, several procedures were tested using background and blank controls. Moreover, the possible sample sedimentation on the ATR plate cell due to the complexity of the sample matrix during the spectra acquisition was also checked. 

Mercury generally is found in low and trace concentrations. So there is need to determine Hg in ranges corresponding to various types of water samples. Detection levels of Hg can be improved by the use of vapour generation technique. This technique allows to sepai ate the analyte from the sample matrix and so to overcome the matrix interference. The fluorescence technique, with its high sensitivity and linearity, in combination with vapour generation, provides for a possibility to detect Hg in parts per trillion per liter regions. 

If the secondary ion component is indeed negligible, the measured SNMS ion currents will depend only on the ionizing mode, on the atomic properties of the sputtered atoms, and on the composition of the sputtered sample. Matrix characteristics will have no effect on the relative ion currents. SNMS analysis also provides essentially complete coverage, with almost all elements measured with equal facility. All elements in a chemically complex sample or thin-film structure will be measured, with no incompleteness due to insensitivity to an important constituent element. Properly implemented SNMS promises to be a near-universal analytical method for solids analysis. 

ICP-OES is a destructive technique that provides only elemental composition. However, ICP-OES is relatively insensitive to sample matrix interference effects. Interference effects in ICP-OES are generally less severe than in GFAA, FAA, or ICPMS. Matrix effects are less severe when using the combination of laser ablation and ICP-OES than when a laser microprobe is used for both ablation and excitation. 

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