Ana Rita A. Nogueira

Effect of acid concentration on closed-vessel microwave-assisted digestion of plant materials ☆

Abstract The efficiency of microwave-assisted acid digestion of plants using different concentrations of nitric acid (2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 14 mol l−1) with hydrogen peroxide (30% v/v) was evaluated by measuring the residual carbon content (RCC) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) with axial viewing. Certified reference materials were used for evaluating the accuracy attained when 2 mol l−1 HNO3 was employed for digestion. Under all experimental conditions RCC values were always lower than 13% w/v, and even the highest concentration did not cause any interference with element recovery. It seems that the high pressure reached for closed-vessel operation improved the oxidative action of nitric acid due to consequent temperature increase, even when this reagent was not used at high concentrations. According to acid–base titration data, residual acid in the digestates varied from 1.2 to 4.0 mol l−1, depending on the acid concentration initially added. It can be concluded that for plant materials, microwave-assisted acid digestion can be carried out under mild conditions, which implies that digestates do not need extensive dilution before introduction by pneumatic nebulization to ICP-OES. An additional advantage is the lower amount of residue generated when working with less concentrated acid solutions.

Focused-microwave-assisted strategies for sample preparation

Abstract In this work a general discussion is presented about extraction and digestion procedures, assisted by focused-microwave radiation. Applications involving inorganic, organic, and organometallic analytes in different types of samples are presented, taking into account recent literature data. The main advantages of using focused-microwave radiation are highlighted, such as safety, versatility, control of microwave energy released to the sample, and programmed addition of solutions. All these features can be applied properly in sample preparation for speciation analysis. New routes of development are discussed considering partial digestion by acid-vapor and gradual addition of a liquid sample to hot concentrated acids. Some preliminary results using these strategies are presented to demonstrate their potentiality.

Coconut coir as biosorbent for Cr(VI) removal from laboratory wastewater

A high cost-effective treatment of sulphochromic waste is proposed employing a raw coconut coir as biosorbent for Cr(VI) removal. The ideal pH and sorption kinetic, sorption capacities, and sorption sites were the studied biosorbent parameters. After testing five different isotherm models with standard solutions, Redlich-Peterson and Toth best fitted the experimental data, obtaining a theoretical Cr(VI) sorption capacity (SC) of 6.3 mg g(-1). Acid-base potentiometric titration indicated around of 73% of sorption sites were from phenolic compounds, probably lignin. Differences between sorption sites in the coconut coir before and after Cr adsorption identified from Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested a modification of sorption sites after sulphochromic waste treatment, indicating that the sorption mechanism involves organic matter oxidation and chromium uptake. For sulphocromic waste treatment, the SC was improved to 26.8+/-0.2 mg g(-1), and no adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced, remaining only Cr(III) in the final solution. The adsorbed material was calcinated to obtain Cr(2)O(3,) with a reduction of more than 60% of the original mass.

Evaluation of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers with axially and radially viewed configurations

b ´ Abstract The analytical performance of two inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometers with axially and radially viewed configurations, equipped with charge coupled device solid-state detectors was evaluated using Ar, Ba, Mg, and Ni as test elements. Both instruments have similar Echelle optical arrangements and radio-frequency generators, differing only in the viewing mode and in the diameter of the central injector tube, i.e. 2.3 for the axially and 1.4 mm for the radially viewed ICP. The figures of merit evaluated were: warm-up time, short- and long-term stabilities, UV and VIS spectral resolution and limit of detection (LOD) for Ni in 0.14 moll HNO and 1000 y1 3

Microwave-assisted digestion procedures for biological samples with diluted nitric acid: identification of reaction products.

Microwave-assisted sample preparation using diluted nitric acid solutions is an alternative procedure for digesting organic samples. The efficiency of this procedure depends on the chemical properties of the samples and in this work it was evaluated by the determination of crude protein amount, fat and original carbon. Soybeans grains, bovine blood, bovine muscle and bovine viscera were digested in a cavity-microwave oven using oxidant mixtures in different acid concentrations. The digestion efficiency was evaluated based on the determination of residual carbon content and element recoveries using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). In order to determine the main residual organic compounds, the digests were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR). Subsequently, studies concerning separation of nitrobenzoic acid isomers were performed by ion pair reversed phase liquid chromatography using a C18 stationary phase, water:acetonitrile:methanol (75:20:5, v/v/v)+0.05% (v/v) TFA as mobile phase and ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. Sample preparation based on diluted acids proved to be feasible and a recommendable alternative for organic sample digestion, reducing both the reagent volumes and the variability of the residues as a result of the process of decomposition. It was shown that biological matrices containing amino acids, proteins and lipids in their composition produced nitrobenzoic acid isomers and other organic compounds after cleavage of chemical bonds.

Direct determination of Cu and Zn in fruit juices and bovine milk by thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

In the present work, thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS) was employed for Cu and Zn determination in bovine milk and fruit juice samples without any pretreatment. TS-FF-AAS system was optimized and a sample volume of 300mul was injected into the carrier stream (0.014moll(-1) HNO(3) at a flow rate of 0.4mlmin(-1)), and it was introduced into a hot Ni tube. The detection limits obtained for Cu and Zn in aqueous solution were 2.2 and 0.91mugl(-1), respectively, and 3.2mugl(-1) for Cu in a medium containing water-soluble tertiary amines. The relative standard deviations varied from 2.7 to 4.2% (n=12). Sample preparation was carried out by simple dilution in water or in water-soluble tertiary amines medium. Accuracy was checked by performing addition-recovery experiments as well as by using reference materials (whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, and infant formula). Recoveries varied from 97.7 to 105.3% for Cu and Zn. All results obtained for reference materials were in agreement with certified values at a 95% confidence level.

Determination of ytterbium in animal faeces by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method for ytterbium determination in animal faeces by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (TCAAS) was developed. Faeces were dry-ashed in a muffle furnace, the ashes were treated with hydrochloric acid, and 10 mul of sample solution were delivered into 150-W tungsten coil atomizer. A matrix-matching procedure employing a 66-s heating program proved to be efficient for obtaining accurate results. Characteristic mass and detection limit were 7.1 pg and 0.35 mug g(-1) Yb, respectively. The tungsten coil atomizer lifetime exceeded 300 firings with digested solutions and R.S.D. of measurements was 1.9% after ten consecutive injections of 10.0 mug l(-1) Yb. Accuracy of the proposed method was assessed by employing a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric procedure. Application of the paired t-test did not reveal any significant difference for ytterbium contents determined by both methods at 95% confidence level. It was demonstrated that the proposed procedure can successfully be used for evaluation of kinetic passage rate of feed through digestive tract of animals.

Study of the protein-bound fraction of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc in bovine milk

Abstract Two approaches were used to study the interaction of Ca, Fe, Mg and Zn with bovine milk proteins by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICPOES). Selective separations in bovine milk samples were accomplished employing an acid protein precipitation using 100 g l−1 trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and an enzymatic protein hydrolysis using 50 g l−1 pepsin (PEP) solution, respectively. The results were compared with total mineral contents determined after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The results obtained by enzymatic and acid precipitation evidenced the different interaction forms of Ca, Fe, Mg and Zn in the system formed by milk components. Iron was not solubilized by the TCA treatment, but was recovered completely after the enzymatic treatment. Quantitative recoveries of Ca, Mg and Zn were obtained using both approaches, showing that these analytes were bound to milk compounds affected by either treatment. Calcium, Mg and Zn are mainly associated with colloidal calcium phosphate and Fe is bound to the backbone of the casein polypeptide chain, cleaved by pepsin enzyme. The proposed approaches could be used to assess the complexity of these chemical interactions.

Oxygen bomb combustion of biological samples for inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Abstract A rapid sample preparation method is proposed for decomposition of milk powder, corn bran, bovine and fish tissues, containing certified contents of the analytes. The procedure involves sample combustion in a commercial stainless steel oxygen bomb operating at 25 bar. Most of the samples were decomposed within 5 min. Diluted nitric acid or water-soluble tertiary amines 10% v/v were used as absorption solutions. Calcium, Cu, K, Mg, Na, P, S and Zn were recovered with the bomb washings and determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Ethanol mixed with paraffin was used as a combustion aid to allow complete combustion. A cooling step prior releasing of the bomb valve was employed to increase the efficiency of sample combustion. Iodine was also determined in milk samples spiked with potassium iodide to evaluate the volatilization and collection of iodine in amine CFA-C medium and the feasibility of its determination by ICP-OES with axial view configuration. Most of the element recoveries in the samples were between 91 and 105% and the certified and found contents exhibited a fair agreement at a 95% confidence level.

Multi-site detection in flow analysis: Part 1. Relocation of spectrophotometric detector

Abstract Multi-site detection is achieved when a single detector is allowed to locate at different positions in the manifold. Relocation of the detector is accomplished by connecting its inlet and outlet tubes to strategic manifold sites. The potential and limitations of detector relocation in flow-injection spectrophotometry and the influence of the dead volume of the flow cell plus accessories, manifold dimensions and commutation timing are discussed. Analytical throughput is improved with multi-site detection, but the system becomes more sensitive to effects of detector dead volume. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated in the determination of aluminium and iron in plant digests involving parallel monitoring and in the speciation of iron involving serial monitoring.