Single Drop Solution Electrode Glow Discharge for Plasma Assisted-Chemical Vapor Generation: Sensitive Detection of Zinc and Cadmium in Limited Amounts of Samples

Abstract

A simple and sensitive approach is proposed and evaluated for determination of ultratrace Zn and Cd in limited amounts of samples or tens of cells based on a novel single drop (5-20 μL) solution electrode glow discharge assisted-chemical vapor generation technique. Volatile species of Zn and Cd were immediately generated and separated from the liquid phase for transporting to atomic fluorescence or atomic mass spectrometric detectors for their determination only using hydrogen when the glow discharge was ignited between the surface of a liquid drop and the tip of a tungsten electrode. Limits of detection are better than 0.01 μg L(-1) (0.2 pg) for Cd and 0.1 μg L(-1) (2 pg) for Zn, respectively, and comparable or better than the previously reported results due to only a 20 μL sampling volume required, which makes the proposed technique convenient for the determination of Zn and Cd in limited amounts of samples or even only tens of cells. The proposed method not only retains the advantages of conventional chemical vapor generation but also provides several unique advantages, including better sensitivity, lower sample and power consumption, higher chemical vapor generation efficiencies and simpler setup, as well as greener analytical chemistry. The utility of this technique was demonstrated by the determination of ultratrace Cd and Zn in several single human hair samples, Certified Reference Materials GBW07601a (human hair powder) and paramecium cells.

Single-Drop Solution Electrode Discharge-Induced Cold Vapor Generation Coupling to Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion: A Robust Approach for Sensitive Quantification of Total Mercury Distribution in Fish

“…Preliminary Studies and Optimization of Operation Parameters of SD-SEGD-CVG-AFS. Despite SD-SEGD-CVG having been successfully used to convert Zn(II) and Cd(II) to their volatile species, 21 this is the first attempt to utilize this technique for the generation of Hg 0 from IHg and MeHg. Therefore, initial experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility and practicability of SD-SEGD-CVG on the generation of Hg 0 from limited amounts of samples.…”

Application of Preconcentration and Separation Techniques in Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

“…Ultraviolet radiation was proposed for the atomization of gaseous mercury hydrides for their determination by AFS (108). In addition, a novel single-drop solution electrode glow discharge-assisted CVG technique was developed for generation of volatile species of Zn and Cd (109). Nanomaterials, especially nano-TiO 2 , has played an important role in PVG due to its excellent photocatalytic properties.…”

Chemical vapor generation from an ionic liquid using a solid reductant: determination of Hg, As and Sb by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

“…[1][2][3][4] Most recently, the scope of elements amenable to CVG has been expanded from the common hydride forming elements (e.g., As, Sb, Bi, Se, Te, Ge, Sn, Pb, Zn, and Cd) and mercury to several transition and noble metals including Au, Ag, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu with the introduction of UV photochemical vapor generation (UV PVG), 5-8 use of "enhancement" reagents and modiers to improve reaction efficiencies 9,10 and the realization of rapid gas-liquid phase separation of the potentially unstable reaction products in hydride generation (HG). Chemical vapor generation (CVG) as an elegant means of sample introduction not only simultaneously enhances sensitivity for atomic spectrometry but also improves sample preparation strategies since it provides unique advantages including efficient matrix separation, enhanced selectivity, reduced interferences, increased precision, improved efficiency of sample introduction and improved detection limits.…”