Emur Henden

Comparison of moss and bark samples as biomonitors of heavy metals in a highly industrialised area in Izmir, Turkey

The moss, Hypnum cupressiforme and bark of the pine, Pinus brutia have been used for passive monitoring of airborne heavy metal pollution by an iron-steel mill of an industrialised area of Izmir, Turkey. Six metals, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) have been monitored using atomic absorption spectrometry. Between 26.2.1992 and 13.8.1992 samples were taken on five occasions at a distance of 0.25, 1.0 and 2.5 km from the mill. The results show an accumulation of all six metals, with differences between the moss and bark samples and a decrease in concentration with distance from the mill. The arithmetic means of the measured heavy metal concentrations in the moss, Hypnum cupressiforme, were always much higher than those in the bark of the P. brutia, indicating that the moss H. cupressiforme is more suitable than the bark of P. brutia for use in monitoring heavy metal pollution. The results show that the study area, within 2.5 km from the iron-steel mill, is heavily polluted.

Application of a wool column for flow injection online preconcentration of inorganic mercury(II) and methyl mercury species prior to atomic fluorescence measurement

The use of an unmodified native sheep wool packed minicolumn for the online preconcentration of Hg(II) and methyl mercury species prior to the determination of mercury by atomic fluorescence spectrometry was investigated. Experimental conditions, such as pH, desorbing agents, volume of solution were optimized. 0.5M thioglycolic acid was found to be a successful eluting agent for both mercury species. Breakthrough and total capacities were determined. The method is simple and rapidly applicable for the determination of Hg(II) and methyl mercury in tap water. The accuracy of the method was examined by the analysis of a peach leaves standard reference material. Recoveries of spiked mercury species in tap water were 105.8% for Hg(II) and 98.8% for methyl mercury.

Determination of selenoamino acids by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract The application of the recently introduced ethylchloroformate derivatization method for the separation and determination of selenomethionine and selenocystein in selenium-enriched yeast and yeast-free tablets by means of a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) system has been studied. The efficiency of three methods for the extraction of selenomethionine from the tablets were compared. Total selenium content of the same tablets were measured using inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS and it was found that in the selenized yeast tablets about 80% of the total selenium is present as selenomethionine. The results were in agreement with the values in the labels and with the literature. The accuracy of the total selenium analysis was controlled by the analysis of a reference material.

Molecular emission cavity analysis : Part X. The Separation and Simultaneous Determination of Arsenic and Antimony by Hydride Generation

Abstract Arsenic and antimony (both 0–50 p.p.m.) are determined simultaneously by conversion to their hydrides with sodium borohydride, followed by gas Chromatographic separation. and measurement of the eluted gases by molecular emission cavity analysis at 400 nm. Tin can also be determined simultaneously. All interferences are masked by EDTA. A more sensitive procedure for arsenic (0–2 p.p.m.) or antimony (0–4 p.p.m.) is also described, based on a cold trap collection technique.

Simultaneous determination of germanium, arsenic, tin and antimony by molecular emission cavity analysis after hydride generation and gas chromatographic separation

Abstract Arsenic (0.1–5 μg), antimony (1–40 μg), tin (0.5–10 μg) and germanium (0.2–10 μg) are determined simultaneously by reduction to their hydrides with sodium tetrahydroborate(III), followed by gas chromatographic separation on a column of 10% E-301 silicone gum rubber on Porapak Q, and measurement of the emissions at 490 nm in an oxygen/hydrogen flame within a cavity. Detection limits for 1-ml samples are 35 ng As, 400 ng Sb, 85 ng Sn and 100 ng Ge. A more sensitive determination of arsenic (0.05–3 μg) and antimony (0.1–5 μg) in binary mixtures is also described; the detection limits are 15 ng As and 40 ng Sb.

Determination of essential and non-essential elements in various tea leaves and tea infusions consumed in Turkey

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Thus, the chemical components in tea are of great interest, especially in relation to health. In this study, 12 tea samples (10 black, 1 white and 1 green) and 5 herbal tea samples were purchased from supermarkets in Izmir, Turkey. Sample preparation has been performed using wet and microwave digestion procedures. The elemental content (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Na and K) in the digests and infusions has been analysed. Generally, elemental contents in tea leaves were found to be higher than those in tea infusions. The accuracy of the method was checked and confirmed by standard reference material analyses. The comparison of wet and microwave digestion has not shown significantly different results. Therefore, the microwave digestion procedure was preferred because it is less laborious. The elemental intake related to tea consumption has also been studied.

Molecular emission cavity analysis: Part 14. Determination of Selenium Utilizing Hydrogen Selenide Generation

Abstract Selenium (0.02–2 ppm), after conversion to hydrogen selenide -with sodium tetrahydroborate, can be determined by molecular emission cavity analysis. The detection limit is 7 ng of selenium. The effects of 26 ions are reported. The depressive effects of arsenic and antimony can be removed by selective volatilisation, and the enhancing effects of tellurium and sulphite by addition of tellurium to standards and by oxidation to sulphate, respectively.

Fiber optic sodium and potassium sensing by using a newly synthesized squaraine dye in PVC matrix.

In recent years squarines received attention as fluorescent labels. Their very promising spectral properties such as long wavelength absorption and emission, high extinction coefficients and quantum yields could lead novel sensing technologies. In this work newly synthesized fluoroinophores named bis[4-N-(1-aza-4,7,10,13-tetraoxacyclopentadecyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine, azacrown-1 and 2 bis[4-N-(1-aza-4,7,10,13,16-pentaoxacyclooctadecyl)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine, azacrown-2 have been used for sodium and potassium sensing in plasticized PVC matrix. The squaraine derivatives exhibited fluorescence emission based optical responses to sodium and potassium with a detection limit of 1.10(-9) M. The sensor compositions exhibited wide response ranges between 10(-9) and 10(-5) M Na(+)or K(+), and, therefore, may be an alternative method to flame emission spectroscopy. The sensor is fully reversible within the dynamic range and the response time is 3 min under batch conditions. Cross sensitivity to pH is negligible in the pH range of 6.2-7.3. Throughout fiber optic based studies a relative signal change of 54-56% has been achieved. The azacrown dyes have the advantage that they can be excited with long wavelength light and, are, therefore, LED compatible. The cross sensitivity of azacrown-1 and -2 to Ba(2+), Ca(2+) and NH(4)(+)were also tested in separate solutions.

Interferences in the quartz tube atomizer during arsenic and antimony determination by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract Interferences of some metals in the determination of arsenic by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry utilizing a quartz tube atomizer were studied. The atomizers were coated under vacuum with Ni, Au, Pd and Cr. The arsenic signal was almost totally suppressed by all the metal coatings and thus the interferences from metal ions in the determination of arsenic were attributed both to the carry over of the reaction mixture, as well as interferences in the hydride formation step. Inter-element interferences by arsenic and antimony on each other in the atomizer of the same system were also studied. When arsine and stibine reach the atomizer at the same time they suppress each other’s signals. The interference of arsenic on antimony was eliminated by simply separating arsine, which elutes first, from stibine using a simple gas chromatographic column (GC column). However, even when arsine and stibine are separated using the GC column, antimony is deposited in the quartz tube atomizer at the temperatures the quartz tube attains when heated in the air–acetylene flame, suppressing the arsenic signal in subsequent experiments. Therefore, directing of stibine outside of the atomizer, after elution of arsine from the GC column, was suggested for arsenic determination.

Highly sensitive sensing of zinc(II) by development and characterization of a PVC-based fluorescent chemical sensor

A sensor membrane with excellent performance based on 1-methyl-1-phenyl-3-[1-hydroxyimino-2-(succinimido)ethyl]cyclobutane has been developed for the determination of zinc(II) ions. The sensing membrane is capable of determining zinc(II) with an outstanding high selectivity over a dynamic range between 8.0×10(-8) and 1.6×10(-4) mol L(-1) with a limit of detection of 2.5×10(-8) mol L(-1) (1.6 μg L(-1)). It can be easily and completely regenerated by using 0.1 mol L(-1) EDTA solution. The optical sensor developed here was found to be stable, cost effective, easy to prepare, and has unique selectivity towards Zn(2+) ion with respect to common metal ions. The proposed sensor was then applied for the determination of zinc in tap water and hair samples with satisfactory results.