Speciation analysis of inorganic As and Sb in urban dust using slurry sampling and detection by fast sequential hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

In this work, a methodology for chemical speciation analysis of inorganic As and Sb in urban dust using slurry sampling and detection by fast sequential hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. Doehlert design and desirability function were used to find the optimum conditions for hydride generation (1.0 mol L-1 HCl and 0.9% m v-1 NaBH4). The accuracy of the analytical method was evaluated by analysis of reference material fly ash (BCR 176R), addition and recovery tests for inorganic As species, and comparison of independent methods for Sb determination in urban dust samples. The determination of the total concentrations of As and Sb and their inorganic species presented good accuracy, between 80 ± 1 and 101 ± 6%. Precision was expressed as the relative standard deviation and was better than 4.7% (n = 3). The limit-of-quantification values were 0.23 and 1.03 mg kg-1 for As and Sb, respectively. The methodology was applied to eight samples of dust collected in an urban area of Salvador and Jaguaquara cities, Bahia, Northeast, Brazil, with an aerodynamic size lower than 38 µm. Concentrations of pentavalent inorganic species (iAs5+ and iSb5+) in relation to trivalent species (iAs3+ and iSb3+) were found in urban dust collected in the city of Salvador, which are regarded as more toxic for both elements. The enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values showed that for some samples, the concentrations of iAs and iSb presented strong enrichment and, and regarding environment, strong to moderately polluted by iAs and iSb, with an indication of anthropogenic contributions. The occurrence of these inorganic constituents in the urban area of Salvador can be related with intense industrial activities and vehicular traffic.

Determination of nutrients in sugarcane juice using slurry sampling and detection by ICP OES.

The fractional factorial and Doehlert designs for optimization of a slurry sampling procedure to determine of nutrients in sugarcane juice by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) were applied. External calibration curves were used for direct analysis of the slurry. This procedure allowed determination of Ca, Cu, Fe, K and Mg with limits of detection (LoD) obtained of 2.0, 0.04, 0.2, 1.0 and 1.5 mg L-1, respectively. The precision was expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD), being better than 1.4% (n = 3). Accuracy was confirmed by comparison with sample digestion method. The results for analysis of fourteen sugarcane juices samples demonstrated that the nutrients Ca, Cu, Fe, K and Mg have average contents of 108, 0.506, 6.40, 470 and 114 mg L-1, respectively. The proposed analytical method is a good alternative for simultaneous determination of nutrients in sugarcane juice using introduction of slurries and detection by ICP OES.

Comparison of Spectrophotometric Methods for the Determination of Copper in Sugar Cane Spirit.

Three spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of copper (Cu) in sugar cane spirit using the chromogenic reagents neocuproine, cuprizone, and bathocuproine. Experimental conditions, such as reagent concentration, reducer concentration, pH, buffer concentration, the order of addition of reagents, and the stability of the complexes, were optimized. The work range was established from 1.0 to 10.0 µg/mL, with correlation coefficients of >0.999 for all three optimized methods. The methods were evaluated regarding accuracy by addition and recovery tests at five concentration levels, and the obtained recoveries ranged from 91 to 105% (n = 3). Precision was expressed as RSD (relative standard deviation), with values ranging from 0.01 to 0.17% (n = 10). The method using the chromogenic reagent cuprizone presented the greatest molar absorptivity, followed by bathocuproine and neocuproine. The methods were applied for the determination of Cu in sugar cane spirit, and the results were compared with a reference method by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Calibration curve solutions for FAAS analysis were prepared in a 40% (v/v) alcohol medium in a range of concentrations from 0.5 up to 5 µg/mL. Measurements for Cu determination were carried out at a wavelength of 324.7 nm. The concentrations obtained for Cu in sugar cane spirit samples from Brazil were between 1.99 and 12.63 µg/mL, and about 75% of the samples presented Cu concentrations above the limit established by Brazilian legislation (5.0 µg/mL or 5.0 mg/L).

Determination of Zn in Dry Feeds for Cats and Dogs by Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry.

This work describes an analytical method for Zn determination in dry feeds for cats and dogs by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Samples of dry feed were powdered and prepared in the form of pellets for direct analysis by EDXRF. The LOQ (10σ) was 0.4 mg/kg. The samples were also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) as an independent comparative method. Application of a paired t-test showed no significant differences between Zn concentrations obtained by EDXRF and ICP-OES (at a 95% confidence level). Analysis of variance was also applied to the results and revealed no significant differences between the two techniques (at a 95% confidence level). The precision, expressed as the RSD (n = 3), was RSD < 4.55%. This analytical method provides a simple, rapid, accurate, and precise determination of Zn in dry feeds for cats and dogs by EDXRF as direct, solid-sample analysis.