Wlodzimierz Zembrzuski

Direct determination of ultratraces of thallium in water by flow-injection—differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

A direct method for the determination of thallium concentrations on the order of 10−11 M was developed. Long deposition times (up to 2 h) performed in the flow system with circulation of the analyte ensured the necessary preconcentration. A large volume sample (100 ml) was used to prevent depletion of thallium during deposition. The flow-through cell of a wall-jet type with the mercury film electrode based on an epoxy resin impregnated graphite was used. The detection limit of the method is 2 ng l−1 at 90 min preconcentration). A spike of 0.05 M EDTA was found to be an effective preservative for fresh water samples. Numerous examples of determinations of thallium in tap water and river water are given.

Determination of thallium in soils by flow-injection-differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry

A relatively simple and quick method for the determination of thallium in soils is described. The method does not require any separation prior to determination. Total decomposition of the sample was performed in a teflon bomb. The interferences of iron, aluminum and manganese were removed by media exchange performed in a flow-injection measuring system, and the other interferences were removed by the use of the base electrolyte consisting of 0.15M EDTA and 0.1M ascorbic acid. The contents of thallium in the examined samples of soil were between 100 and 350 ppb.

Tensammetry with accumulation on the hanging mercury drop electrode

Abstract The behaviour of Triton X-100, which can be present in monomeric or associated form, and its mixtures with PEG-9000, which does not undergo association, is described. The tensammetric curve of Triton X-100 alone shows one or two peaks at negative potentials, depending on the concentration of Triton X-100, i.e., on the presence of associated forms. For

The effect of industrial pollution on copper, lead, zinc and cadmium concentration in xylem rings of resistant (Populus marilandica) and sensitive (P. balsamifera) species of poplar

SummaryThe patterns of radial distribution of copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in two species of poplar, growing under polluted conditions near a copper smelter, were investigated. Populus marilandica is very resistant to such pollution, but P. balsamifera is sensitive. Soils were examined for concentrations of these metals, and only a surface layer of soil was polluted with copper and lead. P. balsamifera absorbed much more cadmium than P. marilandica under the same conditions. P. marilandica shows a pattern of copper radial distribution with significantly increased concentration of the meral in the layers in the middle of the trunk compared to P. balsamifera. Zinc and cadmium have a pattern with increased metal concentration from the bark towards the pith of the tree. In the case of copper and lead the pattern indicates increased concentrations of these metals in the rings adjacent to the pith while the pattern in other parts of the tree remains unconfirmed due to poor precision. Poplar xylem seems to accumulate zinc and cadmium while the content of lead in xylem is much lower than in the adjacent soil.

The effect of industrial pollution on Zinc, Cadmium and Copper concentration in the xylem rings of Scot's pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and in the soil

SummaryThe concentrations of heavy metals, including zinc, cadmium, and copper were studied in the xylem rings of Pinus sylvestris trees and in the soil of three heavily polluted sites and one non-polluted site. There was a high correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and recently produced xylem rings. However, the initiation of industrial pollution did not abruptly increase heavy metal concentrations in the xylem rings. There was a high correlation between the zinc content of trees growing near a zinc smelter and the values obtained by other investigators for pine trees growing on the same site.

Biodegradation of oxo-alcohol ethoxylates in the continuous flow activated sludge simulation test.

Biodegradation of two alpha-methyl branched oxo-alcohol ethoxylates (OAE) of different polydispersity: LIAL 125/14 BRD (LIALB) (broad M.W. distribution) and LIAL 125/14 NRD (LIALN) (narrow M.W. distribution), both having an average of 14 oxyethylene subunits (EO) and a C(12-15) alkyl moiety were tested under the continuous flow activated sludge conditions of the classical Husmann plant. Primary biodegradation and concentration of metabolites: free oxo-alcohol fraction (FOA) and poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG), were measured. PEG were divided into two fractions: short-chained PEG (PEGshch) (1-4 EO) and long-chained PEG (PEGlch) (>4 EO). The indirect tensammetric technique combined with an adequate separation was used for analysis. Central fission was found to be a highly dominating pathway, as is the case with fatty alcohol ethoxylates. OAE are highly primarily biodegraded (above 95%). High concentrations of FOA and PEG are formed. Once formed the PEGlch are further fragmented into the PEGshch. Free alcohol fraction compounds are biodegraded sooner when alkyl moiety is shorter. OAE polydispersity has an influence on the kinetics of biodegradation; PEG formed from LIALN are biodegraded slower and to a lower degree than those from LIALB.

Thallium in fractions of sediments formed during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.

Thallium is a highly toxic element. Its concentration in sediment fractions from the 2004 tsunami in Thailand was investigated. A modified BCR procedure was used for sequential extraction. Tl was determined by flow injection differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. It was found that the majority of thallium in the investigated tsunami sediments (86-97 percent) is entrapped in the alumosilicate parent matter i.e. it is entirely immovable. Only the total destruction of this residual fraction with hydrofluoric acid made this thallium available. The conclusion strongly supports the hypothesis that thallium is mainly entrapped in alumosilicate parent matter. Total thallium concentration in the investigated tsunami sediments was divergent in various samples from 0.37 to 1.13 μg g(-1) and significantly different from the reference area (0.05 μg g(-1)). Tsunami sediment fractions from different sampling points are divergent in terms of total thallium concentration and concentration of mobile thallium. Generally, mobile thallium concentration was growing in sequence: water soluble fraction<exchangeable fraction<reducible fraction<oxidizable fraction. However, in two samples, thallium concentration in the reducible fraction was higher than in the oxidizable fraction.

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+/-0.2ppm 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.