Preconcentration of noble metals on alumina prior to analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Application to geological samples.

A preconcentration method for the determination of noble metals (Ag, Au, Ir, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru) was developed using alumina as a sorbent. The method involves an off-line preconcentration analytical procedure: the formation of chloro-complexes of these elements with HCl, loading of the chloro-complexes on alumina followed by elution of analytes and analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The effects of HCl/HNO3 concentration in the sample digest, mass of alumina, and concentration of eluents (HCl and HNO3)/thiourea were studied using multivariate experimental designs. Using 2 M HCl as eluent, detection limits were improved by a factor of 10-20 for Ag, Ir, Os, Pd, Pt, and Ru, and 3-5 for Re and Rh compared to those achieved by direct nebulization (i.e. without preconcentration). Accuracy was verified through analysis of CDN-PGMS-19 ore reference material. Using 2 M HCl for elution, the results for Ag, Pd and Pt agreed with the reference values obtained based on aqua regia digestion (which does not achieve total dissolution). For the determination of Au, evaporation of HNO3 and elution with thiourea were required.

Structure and mechanism of PhnP, a phosphodiesterase of the carbon-phosphorus lyase pathway.

PhnP is a phosphodiesterase that plays an important role within the bacterial carbon-phosphorus lyase (CP-lyase) pathway by recycling a "dead-end" intermediate, 5-phospho-α-d-ribosyl 1,2-cyclic phosphate, that is formed during organophosphonate catabolism. As a member of the metallo-ß-lactamase superfamily, PhnP is most homologous in sequence and structure to tRNase Z phosphodiesterases. X-ray structural analysis of PhnP complexed with orthovanadate to 1.5 Å resolution revealed this inhibitor bound in a tetrahedral geometry by the two catalytic manganese ions and the putative general acid residue H200. Guided by this structure, we probed the contributions of first- and second-sphere active site residues to catalysis and metal ion binding by site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic analysis, and ICP-MS. Alteration of H200 to alanine resulted in a 6-33-fold decrease in k(cat)/K(M) with substituted methyl phenylphosphate diesters with leaving group pK(a) values ranging from 4 to 8.4. With bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate as a substrate, there was a 10-fold decrease in k(cat)/K(M), primarily the result of a large increase in K(M). Moreover, the nickel ion-activated H200A PhnP displayed a bell-shaped pH dependence for k(cat)/K(M) with pK(a) values (pK(a1) = 6.3; pK(a2) = 7.8) that were comparable to those of the wild-type enzyme (pK(a1) = 6.5; pK(a2) = 7.8). Such modest effects are counter to what is expected for a general acid catalyst and suggest an alternate role for H200 in this enzyme. A Brønsted analysis of the PhnP reaction with a series of substituted phenyl methyl phosphate esters yielded a linear correlation, a ß(lg) of -1.06 ± 0.1, and a Leffler α value of 0.61, consistent with a synchronous transition state for phosphoryl transfer. On the basis of these data, we propose a mechanism for PhnP.

Multivariate optimization and simultaneous determination of hydride and non-hydride-forming elements in samples of a wide pH range using dual-mode sample introduction with plasma techniques: application on leachates from cement mortar material.

Analytical methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of hydride-forming (As, Sb) and non-hydride-forming (Cr, Mo, V) elements in aqueous samples of a wide pH range (pH 3-13). The methods used dual-mode (DM) sample introduction with ICP-AES and ICP-MS instruments. The effect of selected experimental variables, i.e., sample pH and concentrations of HNO(3), thiourea, and NaBH(4), were studied in a multivariate way using face-centered central composite design (FC-CCD). Compromised optimum values of the experimental parameters were identified using a response optimizer. The statistically found optimum values were verified experimentally. The methods provided improved sensitivities for the hydride-forming elements compared with the respective conventional nebulization (Neb) systems by factors of 67 (As) and 64 (Sb) for ICP-AES and 36 (As) and 54 (Sb) for ICP-MS. Slight sensitivity improvements were also observed for the non-hydride-forming elements. The limits of detection (LOD) of As and Sb were lowered, respectively, to 0.8 and 0.9 microg L(-1) with the DM-ICP-AES system and to 0.01 and 0.02 microg L(-1) with the DM-ICP-MS system. The short-term stabilities of both methods were between 2.1 and 5.4%. The methods were applied for the analysis of leachates of a cement mortar material prepared in the pH range 3-13. The elemental concentration of the leachates determined by the two DM methods were statistically compared with the values obtained from Neb-ICP-MS analysis; the values showed good agreement at the 95% confidence level. Quantitative spike recoveries were obtained for the analytes from most of the leachates using both DM methods.

Simultaneous determination of hydride (Se) and non-hydride-forming (Ca, Mg, K, P, S and Zn) elements in various beverages (beer, coffee, and milk), with minimum sample preparation, by ICP-AES and use of a dual-mode sample-introduction system.

A method has been developed enabling direct analysis (i.e. after dilution only) of beer, instant coffee, milk, and milk powder by ICP-AES. Analysis of the beverages after dilution with a low concentration of HNO3 was used for accurate determination of essential minor and trace elements (Ca, Mg, K, P, S, and Zn). Selenium, introduced as the hydride, was determined simultaneously with the other non-hydride-forming elements using the commercial multi-mode sample-introduction system (MSIS). To obtain accurate results, however, some simple pre-treatment was needed. Analysis was also performed after microwave-assisted decomposition of the samples. Three different modes of sample-preparation, i.e. dilution only, partial decomposition (aqua regia treatment), and complete decomposition were compared. The results obtained by use of the three different sample-preparation methods were in very good agreement. Results from analysis of certified reference material (SRM 1459 non-fat milk powder) also verified the accuracy of the methods. The limit of detection obtained for Se using dual-mode sample introduction was 0.5 ng mL(-1), which corresponds to approximately 2 ng g(-1) in beer and approximately 4 ng g(-1) in coffee and milk when using the recommended procedure.

Freon (CHF3)-assisted atomization for the determination of titanium using ultrasonic slurry sampling-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (USS-GFAAS): a simple and advantageous method for solid samples.

A simple and advantageous method for the determination of titanium using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sampling has been developed. Titanium is one of the refractory elements that form thermally stable carbides in the graphite tube, which leads to severe memory effects. Trifluoromethane (Freon-23) was applied in the purge gas during the atomization step or alternatively just prior to the atomization to successfully eliminate the problems of carbide formation and increase the lifetime of the furnace tube which could be used for more than 600 heating cycles. A flow rate of 40 mL min(-1) (5% of Freon in argon) was used to obtain symmetrical peaks with no tailing. However, when the gas flow rate was too high (250 mL min(-1)) the peak-tailing and memory effects reappeared. Ti was determined in various materials covering a wide range of concentrations, from 2.8 microg g(-1) to 12% (m/m) Ti. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analyzing certified reference materials (CRMs) or by comparing the results with those obtained using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after decomposition of the samples. The materials analyzed were soil, plant, human hair, coal, urban particulate matters, toothpaste, and powdered paint.