Preconcentration and determination of cadmium by GFAAS after solid-phase extraction with synthetic zeolite.

The solid-phase extraction (SPE) method for the preconcentration of trace amounts of cadmium using synthetic zeolite A-4 and its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was investigated. The preconcentration conditions, such as the optimum pH range of the sample solution for the adsorption of cadmium and the kind of acid solution for dissolving the cadmium-adsorbed synthetic zeolite A-4, as well as the measurement conditions for the determination of cadmium by GFAAS, e.g., the ashing and atomizing temperature, were investigated. Quantitative recovery of cadmium onto zeolite A-4 from the sample solution over the pH range 2.0 - 9.0 was achieved by the batch method. After the solid-phase (cadmium-adsorbed zeolite A-4) was separated from the sample solution by a membrane filter, it was dissolved in 2.0 cm(3) of 2.0 mol dm(-3) nitric acid. An aliquot of the resulting solution was injected into the graphite furnace. In GFAAS measurements an alternate gas (Ar, 90%; O(2), 10%) was used as a sheath gas, and the ashing temperature and atomizing temperature were 400 degrees C and 1600 degrees C, respectively. The detection limit (3 sigma) for cadmium was 0.002 microg dm(-3). The relative standard deviation at 0.010 microg dm(-3) was 3.5 - 4.5% (n = 5). The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of trace cadmium in environmental water samples.

Preconcentration of gallium by coprecipitation with synthetic zeolites prior to determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Synthetic zeolites were dissolved in nitric acid, and the resulting solution used as a coprecipitant for the preconcentration of trace amounts of gallium in water samples prior to determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The gallium preconcentration conditions and the ETAAS measurement conditions were optimized. Gallium was quantitatively concentrated with the zeolites coprecipitate from pH 6.0 to 8.0. The coprecipitate was easily dissolved in nitric acid, and an aliquot of the resulting solution was introduced directly into a tungsten metal furnace. The atomic absorbance of gallium in the resulting solution was measured by ETAAS. An ashing temperature of 400 degrees C and an atomizing temperature of 2600 degrees C were selected. The calibration curve was linear up to 3.0 microg of gallium and passed through the origin. The detection limit (S/N > or = 3) for gallium was 0.08 microg/100 cm3. The relative standard deviation at 1.0 microg/100 cm3 was 3.0% (n = 5). The proposed method has been successfully applied to trace gallium analysis in environmental water samples.

Determination of indium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitation with chitosan.

A sensitive and simple method for the determination of trace amounts of indium in water samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after coprecipitation with chitosan was investigated. Indium was quantitatively preconcentrated from water samples by coprecipitation with chitosan at pH 7.0-9.0. The coprecipitant was easily dissolved with acetic acid, and indium in the resulting solution was determined by GFAAS. The addition of lanthanum as a chemical modifier was more effective for the atomic absorbance of indium. The detection limit (S/N > or = 3) for indium was 0.04 microg dm(-3), and the relative standard deviations (n = 5) were 3.5-4.5% at 1.0 microg/100 cm3. The results obtained in this study indicate that the proposed method can be successfully applied to the determination of trace indium in water samples.