Chemical vapour generation of transition metal volatile species for analytical purposes: Determination of Zn by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

Abstract

Volatile species of Zn were generated by merging acidified aqueous samples and sodium tetrahydroborate(III) solution in a continuous flow system. The gaseous analyte was subsequently introduced via a stream of Ar carrier into the inlet tube of the plasma torch. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for detection. The operating conditions (chemical and physical parameters) and the concentrations of different inorganic (hydrochloric, nitric) and organic acids (acetic, citric, oxalic, tartaric) were evaluated for the efficient generation of Zn vapour. A detection limit (3sigma(blank)) of 4.6 ng mL(-1) was achieved. The precision (RSD) of the determination was 6.9% at a level of 250 ng mL(-1) and 4.7% for 1000 ng mL(-1) (n = 10). The efficiency of the generation process was estimated to be close to 50% in HCl. The possible interferent effect of transition metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni), hydride forming elements (As, Ge, Pb, Sb, Se) and Hg on Zn signal was examined. The method was validated by the determination of Zn in a certified reference material (CRM), NIST 1643d trace elements in water.

Germanium isotope measurements of high-temperature geothermal fluids using double-spike hydride generation MC-ICP-MS

“…We anticipated that Se would be significantly more problematic than Zn. Zn hydride extraction occurs in an acidic media (Smichowski et al, 2003), whereas the Ge extraction occurs in a near neutral solution. Based on this reasoning and our anticipation that a Zn interference would cause large isotope effects (i.e., large and not reproducible d 74/72 Ge values), we assumed that there was no contribution from a Zn interference.…”

Optimisation of volatile elements determination by flow injection hydride generation-inductively coupled plasma spectrometry in electrolytic manganese

“…Hydride generation (HG) techniques have been successfully used in trace-element determination because they offer several advantages [4,5]: (i) enhancement of transport efficiency (approaching 100% for many elements), (ii) separation of the analyte from the matrix and (iii) possibility of pre-concentration. In addition, gaseous sample introduction promotes more efficient plasma atomisation, excitation and ionisation of the analyte [6].…”

Determination of some inorganic species of Fe, Mn and Cr by chemical vapor generation hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

“…Our results for Fe, Mn and Cr are in agreement with those reported as mild conditions for CVG, in the case of the transition metals. [6][7][8][9] …”

“…1 Recently, the list of the elements reduced to volatile species with sodium tetrahydroborate, NaBH 4 (THB), in acidic medium, has been meaningfully extended. In the group of transition and noble metals, generation of volatile compounds of Cd, [2][3][4][5] Cu, 3,4,6,7 Ni, 3,4,6,8 Zn, [2][3][4]9 Ag, [3][4][5][6] Au, 3,[5][6][7]10 Pd, 6,7,10 or Rh 6,7 has often been reported. In light of former research work, experimental parameters including reductant-acid combination (especially the type of acid and its concentration [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and THB concentration 3,[5][6][7][8][9] ) were found to influence the efficiency of the CVG processes.…”