Multi-elemental analysis of marine sediment reference material MESS-3: one-step microwave digestion and determination by high resolution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS)

Single-step microwave digestion methods using four different acidic dissolving reagents were investigated with the main objective to obtain a simple, rapid method for multi-elemental analysis of marine sediment samples by high resolution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HRICP-MS), especially for environmental studies. Closed-vessels microwave digestion procedures were carried out using the reagents as follows: HNO₃, mixture of HNO₃-HCl (φ _r = 9: 1), aqua regia, and mixture of HNO₃-HCl-HF (φ _r = 8: 1: 1). The elements analyzed were: Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, V, and Zn. Good recoveries were established for many of the metals analyzed even when only nitric acid was employed. However, for a good recovery of Sb and Tl, aqua regia should be employed.     

封闭压力酸溶-ICP-MS法分析地质样品中47个元素的评价

对封闭压力酸溶－ICP－MS法同时测定地质样品中47个元素的效果和适用范围进行了实测评价。并对溶样条件进行了优化。实验结果表明，HF－HNO3高温高压酸溶是一种有效的样品分解方法，在所测定的47个元素中，大部分元素如Li,Be,Ti,V,Mn,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Zr,Nb,Mo,Cd,In,Sn,Sb,Hf,Ta,W,Tl,Pb,Bi等在大多数标样中在三种取样量下都可以得到满意的回收率。而Sc,Cr,Ga,Y,REE,Rb,Cs,Sr,Ba,Th,U等元素在大部分样品中则随取样量减少，回收率上升，在一些样品中，当取样量降至25mg时，可以获得满意的回收率。用王水代替HNO3复溶残渣，利用氯离子的络合作用促进复溶，使许多元素的回收率有了明显的提高。     

Comparison of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, anodic stripping voltammetry and instrumental neutron-activation analysis for the determination of heavy metals in airborne particulate matter

The capability of three analytical techniques, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), and instrumental neutron-activation analysis (INAA) have been compared for the determination of Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn in airborne particulate matter, collected on cellulose filters, from the atmosphere of the large area of Thessaloniki, Greece. Two procedures were tested for quantitative leaching of these elements from the filters before ICP-AES and ASV, digestion with aqua regia in a Teflon autoclave, after dissolution of the organic matter with HClO4 under ambient conditions, and ultrasonic extraction with a mixture of HNO3 and HCl. Validation of the leaching and digestion procedures revealed that digestion in the autoclave is more effective, especially for Fe. The concentrations of these elements over a decade in both industrial and urban areas of the investigated region are compared.     

Chemical characterization of PM10 fractions of urban aerosol

The goal of this investigation was to give an overview about the trace metal and total organic/inorganic carbon (TOC/TIC), water-soluble carbon (WSOC) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations in the PM10 aerosol fraction in Budapest and to monitor monthly changes during the sampling period, whether there is a tendency in the seasonal change of the concentrations. The sampling took place in Budapest, Hungary between September 2004 and August 2007 in an area with high traffic density. For the sampling, a high-volume aerosol sampler equipped with a PM10 head was used. The samples were taken onto quartz fiber filters. Each month, one sample was collected. Sampling time was 96 h, the air intake was 30 m³/h, resulting in 2880 m³ sampled air volume.To measure the metal concentrations two types of sample preparation were used: microwave assisted aqua regia extraction and water extraction by sonication. In both cases, the solutions were analyzed by using a sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (SF-ICP-MS). The following 23 elements were investigated: V, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Sb, Sn, Cr, Pt, Pb, Te, Tl, U, Mn, Fe, Co, Ga, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Bi, Li. Comparing the data obtained from the aqua regia extraction to some other cities, the measured trace elements were found in moderate concentration. In the water extract, a significant part of zinc and thallium was found. During the sampling period, no proof of seasonal change in trace element concentrations was found. Trace metal and total organic/inorganic carbon concentrations in Budapest were similar to the concentration data measured in other cities with exception of Mn, Ga, Rb, Cd which are present in higher concentration in Budapest. The TOC content in the PM10 fraction amounted to 30-50%, and its value was the highest during the winter period due to the heating.The yearly average concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons was almost constant over the investigated period, but its seasonal change is more than one order of magnitude.     

Comparison of inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry, anodic stripping voltammetry and instrumental neutron-activation analysis for the determination of heavy metals in airborne particulate matter

The capability of three analytical techniques, inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES), anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), and instrumental neutron-activation analysis (INAA) have been compared for the determination of Cd, Fe, Pb, and Zn in airborne particulate matter, collected on cellulose filters, from the atmosphere of the large area of Thessaloniki, Greece. Two procedures were tested for quantitative leaching of these elements from the filters before ICP–AES and ASV, digestion with aqua regia in a Teflon autoclave, after dissolution of the organic matter with HClO₄ under ambient conditions, and ultrasonic extraction with a mixture of HNO₃ and HCl. Validation of the leaching and digestion procedures revealed that digestion in the autoclave is more effective, especially for Fe. The concentrations of these elements over a decade in both industrial and urban areas of the investigated region are compared.     

Performance of permanent iridium modifier in the presence of corrosive matrix in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The influence of up to 16% HNO3, 28% HCl, and the mixture of both acids in aqua regia on the analytical performance of electrodeposited modifiers (Ir or Ir+Pd) was evaluated and discussed. Cadmium was used as an example of volatile elements often determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). In the presence of HCl, the maximum pyrolysis temperature that could be applied was found to be 600 degrees C. In the presence of HNO3 and aqua regia, both modifiers stabilized cadmium up to 800 degrees C. The long-term performance of electrodeposited Ir or Ir+Pd was not influenced by mineral acids; moreover the tube lifetime was significantly prolonged compared with a non-modified tube.     

Determination of thirteen common elements in food samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry: comparison of five digestion methods

Five sample digestion procedures were evaluated for the determination of Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn in food samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The 5 procedures include dry ashing at 500 degrees C, wet digestion with HNO3-HClO4, microwave digestion with HNO3, microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2, and microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2-HF. For microwave digestion with HNO3-H2O2-HF, silicon (IV) oxide was used to eliminate the excess HF, making it possible to determine total Al, B, and other common elements accurately and simultaneously. Seven National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference materials (SRMs) were analyzed to compare the recovery of 13 elements with above digestion procedures. The results demonstrated that the microwave digestion procedure with HNO3-H2O2-HF yielded the best recoveries for all 13 elements in the selected SRMs. The determined concentrations of most elements were close for all 3 microwave digestion procedures with the exception of Al in oyster tissue, bovine liver, and spinach. Notably, the wet digestion with HNO3-HClO4 is the simplest and the most effective procedure for the selected elements except Al and B. Although there are several concerns with the dry ashing procedure, it might be a preferable procedure for those analyses where only nonvolatile elements are to be determined and the concentrations of the elements are low.     

Preconcentration of trace elements by partial dissolution of the matrix—multielement preconcentration from manganese

Trace elements such as Ag, Au, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Ni, Pb, Pd and Tl, can be preconcentrated with recoveries of better than 95% from high-purity manganese if the sample is coated with a thin layer of mercury before its dissolution in HCl to a small residue. For determination of the trace elements, the residue is completely dissolved in aqua regia. After separation of the mercury by reductive precipitation, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Ni, Pb, and Tl are determined by flame a.a.s. ('injection method'). Ag, Au and Pd are determined in the mercury-containing solution. The relative standard deviation was usually about 5%; Cu, Fe and Pb were proved to be inhomogeneously distributed in the sample (electrolytically produced manganese), and so the standard deviations were considerably greater. The detection limits for the different elements were between 0.6 and 0.004 ppm, depending on the sensitivity of their a.a.s. determination. The theoretical basis of this preconcentration method and its applicability to multielement analysis of different high-purity metals are discussed.     

Determination of thallium in sediments of the River Elbe using isotope dilution mass spectrometry with thermal ionization.

By using isotope dilution mass spectrometry with thermal ionization, TI concentrations were determined in sediments from six sampling positions of the River Elbe in the area of the former GDR (Bad Schandau, Dresden, Barby, Magdeburg, Werben/Havel and Cumlosen). For comparison, two samples from the River Rhine near Emmerich taken in 1978 and 1990 and the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) certified reference material (CRM) 320 River Sediment were also analysed. Thallium concentrations after complete decomposition by high-pressure digestion (HNO3 + HF) and aqua regia [HCI-HNO3 (3 + 1)] ranged from 537 micrograms kg-1 in the BCR CRM 320 to 5192 micrograms kg-1 in the River Rhine sediment (1978) near Emmerich. The reproducibility of the method ranged from 0.06 to 4.7%. Only 49-94% of the total amount of TI was found after extraction with 1 mol dm-3 HNO3 and 43-86% after extraction with aqua regia. Sediments from Dresden, Barby, Werben/Havel and Cumlosen were found to have virtually identical TI concentrations as the River Rhine sediment sampled in 1990. In comparison with the extremely high Hg and As concentrations found in the River Elbe in an earlier study, the TI concentrations were not as high as expected.     

Arsenic speciation in contaminated soils

A method for arsenic speciation in soils is developed, based on extraction with a mixture of 1 mol l(-1) of phosphoric acid and 0.1 mol l(-1) of ascorbic acid, and further measurement with the coupling liquid chromatography (LC)-ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-hydride generation (HG)-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). The stability of the arsenic species in the extracts is also studied. The speciation method applied to several Spanish agricultural contaminated soils from the Aznalcollar zone shows that arsenate is the main species in all the soils analysed and that in some samples arsenite and methylated species could also be detected. The determination of the "pseudototal" arsenic in these soils, obtained by applying extraction with aqua regia (ISO Standard 11466), is also carried out. Both the speciation method and the aqua regia method are applied to several certified reference materials (CRMs) in which total arsenic content is certified. Finally, the same LC-UV-HG coupling with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) detection reveals to be a valid coupling system to perform arsenic speciation in the soils according to its fair quality parameters and easy utilisation.     

On the microwave digestion of soils and sediments for determination of lanthanides and some toxic and essential elements by inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry

Four digestion procedures for microwave dissolution of soils and sediments are investigated. Accurate results (accuracy better than 10%) for lanthanides, Be, Bi, Te, Th, U and Y are obtained only after an overnight stay with a mixture of 2 ml 48% HF and 2 ml 65% HNO(3) and afterwards stepwise microwave digestion with 1 ml 48% HF and 10 ml 5% H(3)BO(3). Only As is not be to be determined by this procedure due to significant interferences from Eu, Nd and Sm. For all other elements, accurate results are obtained by all four procedures.     

Evaluation of strontium isotope abundance ratios in combination with multi-elemental analysis as a possible tool to study the geographical origin of ciders

In order to evaluate alternative analytical methodologies to study the geographical origin of ciders, both multi-elemental analysis and Sr isotope abundance ratios in combination with multivariate statistical analysis were estimated in 67 samples from England, Switzerland, France and two Spanish regions (Asturias and the Basque Country). A methodology for the precise and accurate determination of the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio in ciders by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) was developed. Major elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) were measured by ICP-AES and minor and trace elements (Li, Be, B, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, W, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th and U) were measured by ICP-MS using a collision cell instrument operated in multitune mode. An analysis of variance (ANOVA test) indicated that group means for B, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Se, Cd, Cs, Ce, W, Pb, Bi and U did not show any significant differences at the 95% confidence level, so these elements were rejected for further statistical analysis. Another group of elements (Li, Be, Sc, Co, Ga, Y, Sn, Sb, La, Tl, Th) was removed from the data set because concentrations were close to the limits of detection for many samples. Therefore, the remaining elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba) together with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio were considered for principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Finally, LDA was able to classify correctly 100% of cider samples coming from different Spanish regions, France, England and Switzerland when considering Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope abundance ratio as original variables.     

Separation of tervalent rare earths and scandium from aluminium, iron(iii), titanium(iv), and other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrochloric acid-ethanol

Tervalent rare earths and Sc are separated from the silicate-forming elements Al, Fe(III), Mg and Ti(IV), and also from Mn(II), U(VI), Be, Ga, In(III), Tl(III), Bi(III), Ni, Zn, Cu(II), Cd and Pb by cation-exchange chromatography. The other elements are eluted with 3.0 M HC1 containing 50% ethanol from a column of 60 ml of AG50W-X8 resin (200-400 mesh) while the rare earths are retained. Separation factors are larger than in aqueous hydrochloric acid. Th, Zr, Hf, Ba, Sr, Ca, K, and Rb are the only elements which accompany the rare earths group, but these can easily be separated by other methods which are described. Relevant distribution coefficients, elution curves and accurate results of quantitative separations of synthetic mixtures are presented.     

Comparison of wet microwave digestion methods of plant materials for the determination of metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Microwave closed-system wet digestion procedures for plant samples were examined. Each procedure was tested with samples of tobacco and cabbage, and included digestion by the use of different acids composition, almost complete evaporation of the digest, and then dissolution of the residue in 1% nitric acid. Three microwave digestion programs that varied power, duration, and temperature were used. Closed-vessel reactions followed open-vessel reaction-delay time. Using flame atomic absorption spectrometry on the digests, four or five elements were determined to evaluate effectiveness, precision and accuracy of analytes extraction into solution. After a preliminary study of tobacco digests, the four most effective procedures were chosen, and detailed investigations were carried out on both tobacco and cabbage reference materials. Although all four of the final procedures were accurate, the most precise procedure, with the lowest errors of determination, was using reverse ‘aqua regia’ for tobacco and ‘aqua regia’ for cabbage.     

Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in environmental samples: microwave-assisted total digestion versus aqua regia and nitric acid extraction

We validated the determination of the content of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn using two digestion protocols: a microwave-assisted total digestion and an aqua regia extraction procedure based on the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) 11466 method. Our goal in validating these two protocols, along with a nitric acid digestion, is to propose a rapid, cheap and easily automated digestion method for monitoring heavy metal content in environmental samples. We applied the digestion protocols to samples with a wide range of organic matter such as sediments, soils, sludges and plant material.For samples with a low carbonate or organic matter contents, such as sediments and agricultural soils, aqua regia digestion in an aluminium block was revealed to be an optimum estimator for the total metal content. For samples with a high organic matter content, such as organic horizons of forest floor layers, plant material and organic soils, nitric acid digestion could substitute microwave (MW)-hydrofluoric acid (HF) digestion. Except in a few samples with high organic matter or low heavy metal content, the RSD values obtained after the application of the proposed digestion procedures were lower than 5%. Based on the obtained results, a decision flow chart for choosing the fit-for-purpose digestion procedure is suggested.     

氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定1：5万区域地质调查样品中的As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素

建立了氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定1∶5万区域地质调查样品中的As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素的分析方法,通过采用王水(1+1)分解样品,在盐酸(5%)介质中用硼氢化钾作为还原剂对As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素进行氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定。方法检出限为0.008 9(As)、0.008 1(Sb)、0.008 1(Bi)、0.001 7(Hg)μg/g,测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=12)为0.82%～7.6%,准确度△lgC=-0.01～0.02。方法简便、成本低,检测结果准确,检出限、准确度及精密度均能达到行业规范要求,适用于1∶5万区域地质调查样品水系沉积物、土壤中As、Sb、Bi、Hg等4种元素的测定。     

Oxidative extraction versus total decomposition of soil in the determination of thallium

An aqua regia extraction and a total decomposition of soil were compared in terms of thallium determination. A sequential extraction of soil, according to the BCR protocol, was also performed for additional information on thallium distribution in soil fractions. Certified reference material—soil GBW 07401 of Chinese origin, containing 1 ± 0.2 ppm of thallium was used in these experiments. Thallium was determined by flow injection-differential pulse-anodic stripping voltammetry (FI-DP-ASV). Only 35% of total thallium was extracted in the aqua regia extraction, while the total decomposition led to satisfactory recovery. The sequential extraction showed that only 5% of thallium in GBW 07401 is dissolvable in the four BCR procedure fractions, and that 95% of the element is entrapped in the residual parent matter. These results show that the aqua regia extraction does not ensure complete thallium extraction from soil. Surprisingly, the total decomposition is significantly less time consuming than the aqua regia extraction.     

Resolution of uncertainty of a four-stage sequential extraction procedure using analysis of variance

Sequential extraction procedures are mostly applied to soils and sediments. Investigations were made for testing the applicability of a selected extraction scheme on spoil pile material. Therefore, different spoil pile samples from uranium mining were extracted into four steps (exchangeable, reducible, oxidizable, and aqua regia soluble phase) and the contents of the elements Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Ni, and Zn were analyzed. To substitute the sequential extraction by a sequence of single extractions and thus keep uncertainties of extraction on a low level, both procedures were compared regarding conformity of their results. The effects of sample handling as well as those of analysis on the measured metal contents were determined by means of analysis of variance and sources of uncertainties were discussed.     

Comparative study of optimised BCR sequential extraction scheme and acid leaching of elements in the certified reference material NIST 2711

The optimised BCR sequential extraction procedure and a 4 h 1 mol L⁻¹ HCl partial extraction have been performed on the NIST 2711 reference material for a suite of 12 elements (Cd, Sb, Pb, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As) using magnetic sector ICP-MS. A pseudo-total aqua regia digest of NIST 2711 has also been undertaken for quality assurance purposes, and comparison of the sum of the four BCR fractions, which included an aqua regia digest on the residue, with the pseudo-total aqua regia digest has been used to assess the accuracy of the BCR partitioning approach. As a result of this work, discrepancies between previous studies about BCR partitioning of elements in NIST 2711 have been discussed and an increase in confidence about the use of BCR partitioning scheme on seven elements (Cd, Pb, Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn) in this standard material has been obtained. On the other hand, BCR partitioning for Sb, Cr, Co, Ni and As has been provided for the first time. Partial extraction results are also reported for the same 12 elements analysed by the optimised BCR procedure, with the partial extraction results exhibiting a strong correlation with the sum of the three labile steps of the BCR procedure.     

Development and application of new iondashexchange techniques for the separation of the platinum group and other siderophile elements from geological samples

Two new aniondashexchange techniques have been developed for the separation of the platinum group elements Ru, Pd, Ir, Pt and the siderophile metals Re, Ag, Zn and Cd from geological samples following a NiS fire assay digestion procedure. Both methods are simple and permit the isolation of these elements in sufficient purity for quantitative analysis by isotope dilutiondashinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICPMS) at yields of 75-95%. The high affinity of the considered elements to anion exchange resins allows the use of small (1.25 ml) columns even for the processing of 5-10 g sized silicate rock samples. Following fire assay digestion and dissolution of the NiS buttons in aqua regia, the samples are loaded onto the resin bed as solutions in 1 M HCl. After elution of the bulk sample matrix with dilute HCl and HNO(3), Zn and Cd are stripped from the column using 0.8 M HNO(3). Small amounts of bromine water are added to the dilute mineral acids for the stabilization of strongly retained Ir(IV). Following this, the iondashexchange techniques permit the sequential elution of Ag, Re and the PGE using 11 M HCl, 8 M HNO(3) and 13.5 M HNO(3). The iondashexchange methods have been applied to separation of Ru, Pd, Re, Ir and Pt from the geological reference material SU-la prior to concentration measurements by ID-ICPMS. Our analytical results are in good agreement with previously published data for this sample and display an external reproducibility (based upon repeat dissolutions) of approximately 2-10% for the elements considered in this study.