Geovani C. Brandao

Slurry Sampling—An Analytical Strategy for the Determination of Metals and Metalloids by Spectroanalytical Techniques

Abstract This article critically overviews the state-of-the-art of slurry sampling as an approach for the minimization of sample preparation prior to the determination of metals and metalloids in complex matrices by spectroanalytical techniques. Relevant factors involved in the optimization of slurry-based analytical procedures and the dependence of the quality of the results on the calibration method selected are discussed in detail. The advantages and limitations compared to solid sampling for the analysis of solid matrices are highlighted and discussed. Analytical applications of slurry sampling reported in the literature emphasizing publications between 2004 and 2009 are comprehensively compiled covering detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS), cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS), hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS), hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Direct determination of iron and manganese in wine using the reference element technique and fast sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure is proposed for the direct determination of manganese and iron in wine employing fast sequential flame atomic absorption spectrometry and the reference element technique to correct for matrix effects. Cobalt, silver, nickel and indium have been tested as reference elements. The results demonstrated that cobalt and indium at a concentration of 2 and 10mgL(-1) were efficient for quantification of manganese and iron, respectively. Under these conditions, manganese and iron could be determined with quantification limits of 27 and 40microg L(-1), respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of manganese and iron in 16 wine samples. The content of manganese varied from 0.78 to 2.89mgL(-1) and that of iron from 0.88 to 9.22mgL(-1). The analytical results were compared with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after complete mineralization using acid digestion. The statistical comparison by a t-test (95% confidence level) showed no significant difference between the results.

Use of slurry sampling for the direct determination of zinc in yogurt by high resolution-continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry

This paper presents an analytical procedure for the direct determination of zinc in yogurt employing sampling slurry and high resolution-continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS). The step optimization established the experimental conditions of: 2.0molL(-1) hydrochloric acid, a sonication time of 20min and a sample mass of 1.0g for a slurry volume of 25mL. This method allows the determination of zinc with a limit of quantification of 0.32microgg(-1). The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) were 0.82 and 2.08% for yogurt samples containing zinc concentrations of 4.85 and 2.49microgg(-1), respectively. The accuracy was confirmed by the analysis of a certified reference material of non-fat milk powder furnished by the National Institute of Standard and Technology. The proposed method was applied for the determination of zinc in seven yogurt samples. The zinc content was varied from 2.19 to 4.85microgg(-1). These results agreed with those reported in the literature. The samples were also analyzed after acid digestion and zinc determination by FAAS. No statistical difference was observed between the results obtained by both of the procedures performed.

Simultaneous determination of cadmium, iron and tin in canned foods using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method was established to simultaneously determine cadmium, iron and tin in canned-food samples using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF AAS). The quantification step has been performed using the primary line (228.802nm) for cadmium and the adjacent secondary lines (228.725nm and 228.668nm) for iron and tin, respectively. The selected chemical modifier was an acid solution that contained a mixture of 0.1% (w/v) Pd and 0.05% (w/v) Mg. The absorbance signals were measured based on the peak area using 3 pixels for cadmium and 5 pixels for iron and tin. Under these conditions, cadmium, iron and tin have been determined in canned-food samples using the external calibration technique based on aqueous standards, where the limits of quantification were 2.10ngg(-1) for cadmium, 1.95mgkg(-1) for iron and 3.00mgkg(-1) for tin, and the characteristic masses were 1.0pg for cadmium, 0.9ng for iron and 1.1ng for tin. The precision was evaluated using two solutions of each metal ion, and the results, which were expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD%), were 3.4-6.8%. The method accuracy for cadmium and iron was confirmed by analyzing a certified reference material of apple leaves (NIST 1515), which was supplied by NIST. However, for tin, the accuracy was confirmed by comparing the results of the proposed method and another analytical technique (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry). The proposed procedure was applied to determine cadmium, iron and tin in canned samples of peeled tomato and sardine. Eleven samples were analyzed, and the analyte concentrations were 3.57-62.9ngg(-1), 2.68-31.48mgkg(-1) and 4.06-122.0mgkg(-1) for cadmium, iron and tin, respectively. In all analyzed samples, the cadmium and tin contents were lower than the permissible maximum levels for these metals in canned foods in the Brazilian legislation.

The chemical generation of NO for the determination of nitrite by high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry.

In the present work, we propose a method for the determination of nitrite based on the chemical generation of nitric oxide (NO) and its detection by high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry. NO is generated by the reduction of nitrite in acidic media with ascorbic acid as the reducing agent and then transferred into a quartz cell by a stream of argon carrier gas. The conditions under which the NO is generated are as follows: 0.4 mol L(-1) hydrochloric acid, 1.5%(w/v) ascorbic acid, an argon gas pressure of 0.03 MPa and an injection time of the reducing agent of 4s. All measurements of molecular absorption were performed using the NO line at 215.360 nm, and the signal was measured by peak height. Under these conditions, the method described has limits of detection and quantification of 0.045 and 0.150 μg mL(-1) of nitrite, respectively. The calibration curve is linear for nitrite concentrations in the range 0.15-15 μg mL(-1). The precision, estimated as the relative standard deviation (RSD), was 3.5% and 4.4% for solutions with nitrite concentrations of 0.5 and 5.0 μg mL(-1), respectively. This method was applied to the analysis of different water samples (well water, drinking water and river water) collected in Cachoeira City, Bahia State, Brazil. The results were in agreement with those obtained by a spectrophotometric method using the Griess reaction. Addition/recovery tests were also performed to check the validity of the proposed method. Recoveries of 93-106% were achieved.

Direct determination of chromium in infant formulas employing high-resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and solid sample analysis.

The present work proposed an analytical method for the direct determination of chromium in infant formulas employing the high-resolution continuum source electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry combined with the solid sample analysis (SS-HR-CS ET AAS). Sample masses up to 2.0mg were directly weighted on a solid sampling platform and introduced into the graphite tube. In order to minimize the formation of carbonaceous residues and to improve the contact of the modifier solution with the solid sample, a volume of 10 µL of a solution containing 6% (v/v) H2O2, 20% (v/v) ethanol and 1% (v/v) HNO3 was added. The pyrolysis and atomization temperatures established were 1600 and 2400 °C, respectively, using magnesium as chemical modifier. The calibration technique was evaluated by comparing the slopes of calibration curves established using aqueous and solid standards. This test revealed that chromium can be determined employing the external calibration technique using aqueous standards. Under these conditions, the method developed allows the direct determination of chromium with limit of quantification of 11.5 ng g(-1), precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) in the range of 4.0-17.9% (n=3) and a characteristic mass of 1.2 pg of chromium. The accuracy was confirmed by analysis of a certified reference material of tomato leaves furnished by National Institute of Standards and Technology. The method proposed was applied for the determination of chromium in five different infant formula samples. The chromium content found varied in the range of 33.9-58.1 ng g(-1) (n=3). These samples were also analyzed employing ICP-MS. A statistical test demonstrated that there is no significant difference between the results found by two methods. The chromium concentrations achieved are lower than the maximum limit permissible for chromium in foods by Brazilian Legislation.

Development of a simple method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in groundwater by high-resolution continuum source electrothermal molecular absorption spectrometry.

In this work, it was developed a method for the determination of nitrite and nitrate in groundwater by high-resolution continuum source electrothermal molecular absorption spectrometry of NO produced by thermal decomposition of nitrate in a graphite furnace. The NO line at 215.360 nm was used for all analytical measurements and the signal obtained by integrated absorbance of three pixels. A volume of 20 μL of standard solution or groundwater sample was injected into graphite furnace and 5 μL of a 1% (m/v) Ca solution was co-injected as chemical modifier. The pyrolisis and vaporization temperatures established were of 150 and 1300°C, respectively. Under these conditions, it was observed a difference of thermal stability among the two nitrogen species in the presence of hydrochloric acid co-injected. While that the nitrite signal was totally suppressed, nitrate signal remained nearly stable. This way, nitrogen can be quantified only as nitrate. The addition of hydrogen peroxide provided the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, which allowed the total quantification of the species and nitrite obtained by difference. A volume of 5 μL of 0.3% (v/v) hydrochloric acid was co-injected for the elimination of nitrite, whereas that hydrogen peroxide in the concentration of 0.75% (v/v) was added to samples or standards for the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate. Analytical curve was established using standard solution of nitrate. The method described has limits of detection and quantification of 0.10 and 0.33 μg mL(-1) of nitrogen, respectively. The precision, estimated as relative standard deviation (RSD), was of 7.5 and 3.8% (n=10) for groundwater samples containing nitrate-N concentrations of 1.9 and 15.2 μg mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of 10 groundwater samples and the results were compared with those obtained by ion chromatography method. In all samples analyzed, the concentration of nitrite-N was always below of the limit of quantification of both the methods. The concentrations of nitrate-N varied from 0.58 to 15.5 μg mL(-1). No significant difference it was observed between the results obtained by both methods for nitrate-N, at the 95% confidence level.

Fast sequential determination of antimony and lead in pewter alloys using high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple method has been developed to determine antimony and lead in pewter alloy cups produced in Brazil, using fast sequential determination by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were dissolved in HCl and H2O2, employing a cold finger system in order to avoid analyte losses. The main resonance line of lead at 217.001 nm and a secondary line of antimony at 212.739 nm were used. The limits of detection for lead and antimony were 0.02 and 5.7 mg L−1, respectively. The trueness of the method was established by recovery tests and comparing the results obtained by the proposed method with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results were compared using a students t-test and there was no significant difference at a 95% confidence interval. With the developed methods, it was possible to determine accurately antimony and lead in pewter samples. The lead concentration found in the analysed samples was around 1 mg g−1, which means that they are not lead free; however, the content was below the maximum allowed level of 5 mg g−1. The antimony content, which was found to be between 40 and 46 mg g−1, is actually of greater concern, as antimony is known to be potentially toxic already at very low concentrations, although there is no legislation yet for this element.

Fast sequential determination of manganese and chromium in vegetable oil and biodiesel samples by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A fast method for the sequential determination of Mn and Cr in vegetable oil and biodiesel samples using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF AAS) was developed. Propan-1-ol, propanone and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) were evaluated as solvents for diluting the samples in different proportions to reduce the viscosity of the samples. MIBK was established as a diluent in a proportion of 40% (v/v). All measurements for the determination of Mn and Cr were performed sequentially using their main atomic lines at 279.4817 and 357.8687 nm, respectively. Two atomization temperatures were used sequentially, 1900 and 2500 °C for Mn and Cr, respectively, due to differences in their volatilities. Mg was employed as a modifier to avoid the loss of Cr and to obtain the best conditions for pyrolysis and atomization. The developed method allowed for the sequential determination of both metals in different types of vegetable oil and biodiesel samples, and it presented limits of quantification of 4.48 and 3.57 ng g−1 for Mn and Cr, respectively. Addition and recovery tests were performed, and the results ranged from 79 to 108% for Mn and from 79 to 115% for Cr. The matrix effect was evaluated by comparing organic and aqueous calibration curves, and the results indicated that external calibration was possible. Vegetable oil and biodiesel samples were analyzed by the proposed method and another procedure using acid digestion, and the results from the two methods were consistent. The proposed method was applied for the determination of Mn and Cr in commercial vegetable oil and biodiesel samples produced from soybean, canola, sunflower and corn.

Homogeneity study of a corn flour laboratory reference material candidate for inorganic analysis.

In this work, a homogeneity study of a corn flour reference material candidate for inorganic analysis is presented. Seven kilograms of corn flour were used to prepare the material, which was distributed among 100 bottles. The elements Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Mo were quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after acid digestion procedure. The method accuracy was confirmed by analyzing the rice flour certified reference material, NIST 1568a. All results were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA). In the study, a sample mass of 400mg was established as the minimum mass required for analysis, according to the PCA. The between-bottle test was performed by analyzing 9 bottles of the material. Subsamples of a single bottle were analyzed for the within-bottle test. No significant differences were observed for the results obtained through the application of both statistical methods. This fact demonstrates that the material is homogeneous for use as a laboratory reference material.