Shizhong Chen

Solid-phase extraction of Cu, Co and Pb on oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes and their determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A novel method using a microcolumn packed with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as a new adsorption material was developed for the preconcentration of trace Cu, Co and Pb in biological and environmental samples prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). SWNTs oxidized with concentrated nitric acid have been proved to possess an exceptional adsorption capability for the analytes due to their surface functionalization. The adsorption behaviors of the analytes on SWNTs under dynamic conditions were studied systematically. The main factors influencing the preconcentration and determination of the analytes (pH, sample flow rate and volume, eluent concentration and interfering ions) have been examined in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits for Cu, Co and Pb were 39, 1.2 and 5.4 pg mL(-1), respectively; the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were found to be less than 6.0% (n=9, c=1.0 ng mL(-1)). This method was validated using a certified reference material of mussel, and has been successfully applied for the determination of trace Cu, Co and Pb in real water sample with the recoveries of 96.0-109%.

Speciation analysis of inorganic arsenic in natural water by carbon nanofibers separation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination

In this paper, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as a novel solid phase extraction sorbent were developed for speciation preconcentration and separation of inorganic arsenic species As(III) and As(V) prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It was found that during all the steps of the separation, As(III) was selectively sorbed on the microcolumn packed with CNFs within a pH range of 1.0-3.0 in the presence of ammonium pyrroinedithiocarbamate (APDC), while As(V) was passed through the microcolumn without the retention. Various experimental parameters affecting the separation and determination of As(III) and As(V) have been investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of this method for As(III) were 0.0045 ng mL(-1) with an enrichment factor of 33 and 0.24 ng mL(-1) for As(V), and the relative standard deviations for As(III) and As(V) were 2.6% and 1.9% (n=9, c=1.0 ng mL(-1)), respectively. In order to verify the accuracy of the method, a certified reference of water sample was analyzed, and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of inorganic arsenic species in groundwater and lake water with the recovery of 92-106%.

Speciation of chromium and its distribution in tea leaves and tea infusion using titanium dioxide nanotubes packed microcolumn coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TDNTs) were used as a solid phase extraction adsorbent for chromium species by a packed microcolumn coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), including total, suspended and soluble chromium as well as Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in tea leaves and tea infusion. The experimental results indicated that Cr(III) was quantitatively retained on TDNTs in the pH range of 5.0-8.0, while Cr(VI) remained in the solution. The total chromium was determined after reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The concentration of Cr(VI) is calculated by the difference between total chromium and Cr(III). Under optimal conditions, the detection limits of this method were 0.0075ngmL(-1) for Cr(III). The relative standard deviation was 3.8% (n=9, c=1.0ngmL(-1)). This method was applied for the analysis of the speciation of chromium and its distribution and content in tea leaves, tea infusion and a certified reference material of tea leaves with satisfactory results.

Solidified floating organic drop microextraction for speciation of selenium and its distribution in selenium-rich tea leaves and tea infusion by electrothermal vapourisation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Solidified floating organic drop microextraction was combined with electrothermal vapourisation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for Se species in Se-rich tea leaves and tea infusion, including total, suspended, soluble, organic and inorganic Se as well as Se(IV) and Se(VI). Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate was used as both chelating reagent and chemical modifier in this study. Se(IV) and Se(VI) were separated at pH range of 2.0-5.0. An enrichment factor of 500 was obtained for Se(IV) from this method. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits for Se(IV) and Se(VI) were 0.19 and 0.26pgmL(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviations were less than 5.5% (c=0.1ngmL(-1), n=9). This method was applied for Se species, its content and distribution in Se-rich tea leaves and tea infusion with satisfactory results. The recoveries of spike experiments are in the range of 92.2-106%. A certified reference material of tea leaves was analyzed by this method, and the results were in agreement with certified values.

Carbon nanofibers as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the preconcentration of trace rare earth elements and their determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract Systematic investigations were carried out into the sorption of rare earth elements (REEs) on carbon nonofibers (CNFs) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The experimental parameters for preconcentration of REEs, such as pH, sample flow rate and volume, eluent concentration, and interfering ions on preconcentration of REEs have been examined in detail. The studied metal ions can be adsorbed quantitatively on CNFs in a pH range from 2.0 to 5.0, and then eluted completely with 0.5 mol l−1 HNO3. Based on the above facts, a novel method using a microcolumn packed with carbon nanofibers as an adsorption material was developed for the separation and preconcentration of REEs prior to their determination by ICP‐MS. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of light (La), medium (Eu and Gd) and heavy (Yb) rare earth elements in real sample with the recovery more than 90%. In order to validate this method, two certified reference materials of tea leaves (GBW 07605) and mussel (GBW 08571) were analyzed, and the determined values are in good agreement with the certified values.

Dual extraction based on solid phase extraction and solidified floating organic drop microextraction for speciation of arsenic and its distribution in tea leaves and tea infusion by electrothermal vaporization ICP-MS.

A dual extraction based on solid phase extraction (SPE) and solidified floating organic drop microextraction (SFODME) was developed for As species in tea leaves and tea infusion by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, including total, suspended, soluble, organic and inorganic As as well as As(III) and As(V). In SPE step, titanium dioxide nanotubes were used for preconcentration of analytes and removal of sample matrix. Elution solution from SPE was employed for further preconcentration and separation of analytes with SFODME. Under optimal conditions, detection limits of this method were 0.046 and 0.072pgmL(-1) with relative standard deviations of 6.3% and 5.8% for As(III) and As(V) (n=9, c=1.0ngmL(-1)), respectively. A preconcentration factor of 500-fold was achieved for As(III) and As(V). This method was successfully applied for analysis of speciation of arsenic and its distribution in tea leaves, tea infusion and certified reference material of tea leaves.