On-line determination of ultra-trace of antimony species via hydride generation technique using ultrasonic nebulization system coupled to ICP-OES

Elemental Speciation Analysis in Environmental Studies: Latest Trends and Ecological Impact

Speciation analysis is a key aspect of modern analytical chemistry, as the toxicity, environmental mobility, and bioavailability of elemental analytes are known to depend strongly on an element’s chemical species. Henceforth, great efforts have been made in recent years to develop methods that allow not only the determination of elements as a whole, but also each of its separate species. Environmental analytical chemistry has not ignored this trend, and this review aims to summarize the latest methods and techniques developed with this purpose. From the perspective of each relevant element and highlighting the importance of their speciation analysis, different sample treatment methods are introduced and described, with the spotlight on the use of modern nanomaterials and novel solvents in solid phase and liquid-liquid microextractions. In addition, an in-depth discussion of instrumental techniques aimed both at the separation and quantification of metal and metalloid species is presented, ranging from chromatographic separations to electro-chemical speciation analysis. Special emphasis is made throughout this work on the greenness of these developments, considering their alignment with the precepts of the Green Chemistry concept and critically reviewing their environmental impact.

Hanging drop cathode-atmospheric pressure glow discharge as a new method of sample introduction for inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

This work reports the use of hanging drop cathode-atmospheric pressure glow discharge (HDC-APGD) as a new method of sample introduction for inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The developed arrangement was characterized by a low sample uptake (0.56 mL min⁻¹) and the fact that the entire sample solution volume was consumed by the discharge. This resulted in a very high transport efficiency of analytes from the sample solution into the ICP torch (usually > 80%). Under the optimal operating conditions of HDC-APGD, intensities of emission lines of studied elements were, on average, 2 times higher as compared to those obtained with conventional pneumatic nebulization (PN). Moreover, in the case of I and Y, the observed signal enhancements were even higher, i.e., 6.2 and 6.1 times, respectively. It was also shown that in the case of B and some elements that are known to form different volatile species (Ag, Bi, Cd, Hg, Os, Pb, and Se), the presence of low molecular weight organic compounds in the sample solution, i.e., CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH, HCOOH, CH₃COOH, or HCHO, resulted in the additional enhancement of their signals. It was especially evident in the case of Hg for which a 8.6-fold signal enhancement in the presence of HCOOH was noticed. The system presented herein was distinguished from other competitive APGD-type discharges because it could be successfully used for the determination of a vast group of elements, including alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and non-metals.