Determination of Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in saliva by isotope dilution direct injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Trace elements in small sample volumes of saliva were determined by coupling a high efficiency direct injection nebulizer to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and employing quantification by isotope dilution. Aliquots of 0.4 ml of human saliva were mixed with 0.1 ml of concentrated nitric acid and diluted to 2 ml with water. Sample solutions were spiked with an isotopic solution enriched in 135Ba, 112Cd, 65Cu, 206Pb and 66Zn. The amount of each isotope added to the samples and the measurement procedure were adjusted to attain precise analytical results calculated from the isotope ratios 135Ba/138Ba, 112Cd/114Cd, 65Cu/63Cu, 206Pb/208Pb and 66Zn/68Zn. Data acquisition for Ba, Cu and Zn isotopes was performed for a single sample injection of 50 microl and in another sample injection the Cd and Pb isotopes were measured. Concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 16 microg l(-1) for Ba, from 0.50 to 1.1 microg l(-1) for Cd, from 6.0 to 50 microg l(-1) for Cu, from 0.8 to 18.8 microg l(-1) for Pb and from 46.0 to 230 microg l(-1) for Zn were found in saliva samples. Detection limits of 0.11, 0.03, 0.40, 0.05 and 0.59 microg l(-1) were determined for Ba, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively. The concentrations found by isotope dilution were in agreement with those of the completely digested samples quantified by external calibration. The direct analysis of 30 samples per hour was attained with the proposed procedure, avoiding time-consuming digestion steps, contamination risks and matrix effects.

A flow system with an electrochemical reduction cell for spectrophotometric determinations of major constituents in Fe/V alloys.

Insertion of an electrochemical cell in a flow injection system to evaluate the on-line reduction of ionic species is presented. The cell comprised Pt electrodes installed in two sections separated by a Nafion membrane. The sample was injected into an acidic carrier stream and passed through the cathode compartment of the electrolytic chamber where the species were reduced as consequence of an applied DC voltage. The sample solution leaving the cell received a confluent reagent stream (1,10-phenanthroline buffered at pH 4.7) and the reacted products were dropped off in an open tube for gas/liquid separation. Efficiency of the Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) reduction in acidic medium was evaluated in the presence of strongly reducing species of V and Mo by monitoring the Fe(II) colored complex. Interferences from Pb(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), V(5+) and Mo(6+) were evaluated. Production of strongly reducing species of V at the electrolytic cell presented higher efficiency for Fe reduction than the electrolytic chamber itself. Total reduction of Fe(3+) in solutions containing up to 10 mg l(-1) Fe plus 100 mg l(-1) V or 100 mg l(-1) of Mo was achieved by the electrolytic process at 2 A. The quantitative determination of Fe and V in low silicon Fe/V alloys was achieved. Accuracy was assessed with the certified Euro-standard 577-1 ferrovanadium alloy produced by the Bureau of Analysed Samples Limited and no difference at the 95% confident level was found.