Determination of some inorganic species of Fe, Mn and Cr by chemical vapor generation hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstracts

Generation of volatile species (CVG) from Fe2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, CrO4²ˉ, Mn2+ and MnO4ˉ ions by reaction with NaBH4 reductant in HCl, CH3COOH and citric acids using gas-liquid phase separation system and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry detection (ICP OES) was reported. The optimized conditions were obtained using low concentrations of HCl (0.05‑0.075 mol L‑1) and NaBH4 (0.25-1.0% (m/v)). Volatile species were more effectively generated for lower oxidation state of the analytes. Detection limits of 10, 25 and 66 ng mL-1 were achieved for Mn2+, Fe2+ and Cr3+, respectively.

chemical vapor generation; transition metals; speciation forms; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

Este trabalho descreve a geração de espécies voláteis (CVG) dos íons Fe2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, CrO4²ˉ, Mn2+ e MnO4ˉ pela reação com o agente redutor NaBH4 em HCl, CH3COOH e ácido cítrico usando um sistema de separação gás-líquido e espectrometria de emissão óptica em plasma com acoplamento indutivo (ICP OES). As condições otimizadas foram obtidas usando baixas concentrações de HCl (0,05-0,075 mol L-1) e NaBH4 (0,25-1,0% (m/v)). As espécies voláteis foram geradas de forma mais eficaz para o estado de oxidação mais baixo dos íons estudados. Limites de detecção de 10, 25 e 66 ng mL-1 foram obtidos para Mn2+, Fe2+ e Cr3+, respectivamente

ARTICLE

Determination of some inorganic species of Fe, Mn and Cr by chemical vapor generation hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Maja Welna; Joanna Lasowska; Wieslaw Zyrnicki^*

Wroclaw University of Technology, Chemistry Department, Analytical Chemistry Division, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Generation of volatile species (CVG) from Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, CrO₄²ˉ, Mn²⁺ and MnO₄ˉ ions by reaction with NaBH₄ reductant in HCl, CH₃COOH and citric acids using gas-liquid phase separation system and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry detection (ICP OES) was reported. The optimized conditions were obtained using low concentrations of HCl (0.05‑0.075 mol L^‑1) and NaBH₄ (0.25-1.0% (m/v)). Volatile species were more effectively generated for lower oxidation state of the analytes. Detection limits of 10, 25 and 66 ng mL^-1 were achieved for Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Cr³⁺, respectively.

Keywords: chemical vapor generation, transition metals, speciation forms, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

RESUMO

Este trabalho descreve a geração de espécies voláteis (CVG) dos íons Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, CrO₄²ˉ, Mn²⁺ e MnO₄ˉ pela reação com o agente redutor NaBH₄ em HCl, CH₃COOH e ácido cítrico usando um sistema de separação gás-líquido e espectrometria de emissão óptica em plasma com acoplamento indutivo (ICP OES). As condições otimizadas foram obtidas usando baixas concentrações de HCl (0,05-0,075 mol L^-1) e NaBH₄ (0,25-1,0% (m/v)). As espécies voláteis foram geradas de forma mais eficaz para o estado de oxidação mais baixo dos íons estudados. Limites de detecção de 10, 25 e 66 ng mL^-1 foram obtidos para Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺ e Cr³⁺, respectivamente.

Introduction

In atomic spectrometry, chemical vapor generation (CVG) is a well known sample introduction technique used for determination of hydride-forming elements (e.g. As, Bi, Sb) at trace level.¹ Recently, the list of the elements reduced to volatile species with sodium tetrahydroborate, NaBH₄ (THB), in acidic medium, has been meaningfully extended. In the group of transition and noble metals, generation of volatile compounds of Cd,^2-5 Cu,^3,4,6,7 Ni,^3,4,6,8 Zn,^2-4,9 Ag,^3-6 Au,^3,5-7,10 Pd,^6,7,10 or Rh^6,7 has often been reported. In light of former research work, experimental parameters including reductant-acid combination (especially the type of acid and its concentration^2-10 and THB concentration^3,5-9) were found to influence the efficiency of the CVG processes. However, chemical vapor generation of transition and noble metals is far from being "mature", mainly due to the instability of the volatile species.

Concise review devoted to transition metal was presented lately by Matoušek.¹¹ Reports which focus on applying CVG processes to produce volatile species of Fe, Mn and Cr are scarce. Wickstrøm et al.¹² were the first who considered transport of the Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions into plasma at THB-HCl condition. They showed that it is due to transport of the fine aerosol. Pohl and Zyrnicki¹³ reported enhanced sample introduction efficiencies for Fe and Cr in the reaction with THB and HNO₃, whereas transport of Mn was realized only by an aerosol formation. Similarly, Peña-Vázquez and co-workers,³ during their interference study on Ag, Au, Cd, Cu and Ni vapor generation at the one optimized condition (HNO₃ + THB + 8-hydroxyquinoline), obtained volatile species of Fe and Cr. Dos Santos et al.¹⁴ investigated a novel approach to the generation of Hg vapor and additionally tested applicability of this procedure to vapor generation of other metals (including Cr, Fe, Mn). Feng et al.⁶ were the only ones who mentioned the existence of volatile Mn species generated from Mn²⁺ in the reaction of HNO₃ with THB.

Considering a lack of information on study of speciation forms (appearing in various oxidation states) of transition metals by the CVG application, the studies of the reactions of the ions of Fe (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺), Mn (Mn²⁺, MnO₄ˉ) and Cr (Cr³⁺, CrO₄²ˉ) with THB in different acidic media were undertaken here by means of a CVG ICP OES (chemical vapor generation and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, as detection method) hyphenated system. The influence of experimental conditions on analytical performance was investigated. Some analytical figures of merit as detection limit, linearity range and precision were evaluated.

Experimental

Chemical vapor generation

Vapors were generated in a continuous flow system with a gas-liquid phase separation. A scheme illustrating the system of chemical vapor generation coupled to the ICP OES spectrometer is shown in Figure 1.

The system consisted of a modified cyclonic spray chamber, a concentric pneumatic Meinhard nebulizer and peristaltic pumps with delivery tubes. The chamber was directly connected with a plasma torch. Sample and acid were simultaneously pumped in two separate streams to the first Y-junction and then were mixed with reductant solution in the second Y-junction. Then, through a 60 mm long tube (0.5 mm i.d.) the reaction mixture was introduced at the bottom of the chamber. Volatile species and other gaseous coproducts were swept by a carrier Ar stream, introduced through the nebulizer gas inlet, and transported into the plasma. The sample inlet of the nebulizer was clogged. The wastes were drained with the aid of a peristaltic pump. To achieve stability, the level of the post-reaction liquid in the chamber was controlled and kept at a constant level. The same chamber and nebulizer were also used to nebulize the sample solution.

Apparatus

Measurements were performed using the Jobin Yvon sequential inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (JY 38S). Working parameters for CVG and ICP OES detection are listed in Table 1. After the reaction mixture passed into the chamber, 2 min were necessary to achieve steady signals of the analyzed species.

Reagents and chemicals

All chemicals used were of analytical grade. The 1000 µg mL^-1 solutions of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, MnO₄ˉ, Cr³⁺ and CrO₄²ˉ were prepared from their salts (POCh, Gliwice, Poland). Working standard solutions (up to 100 µg mL^-1 for calibration curves and 5 µg mL^-1 for other investigations) were obtained by dilution of the single-element standards. Solutions of hydrochloric and acetic acids were prepared from concentrated HCl, CH₃COOH (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and citric acid from solid C₆H₈O₇^•H₂O (POCh) reagent. The reductant solutions were made daily by dissolving THB powder (POCh) in 0.1 mol L^-1 NaOH (POCh). Solutions were filtered before being used. Deionized water (18.3 MΩ cm) was used in all experiments.

Results and Discussion

The line intensities were expressed here as net intensities (total signal intensity minus background intensity). The mean values were obtained from three repeated measurements with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 2 to 15%, depending on the experimental conditions.

Reaction of Fe, Mn and Cr ions with THB in HCl medium

The reactions of THB with the ions: Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺ and MnO₄ˉ, Cr³⁺ and CrO₄²ˉ in HCl, were studied. It was found that, Fe, Mn and Cr analyte signals were observed only at low concentrations of HCl (< 0.1 mol L^-1). It was also found that, Fe, Mn and Cr analyte signals depended on the HCl acidity and oxidation state of the elements (Figure 2). The signals from Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ were 2-4 times higher than those achieved from Fe³⁺, MnO₄ˉ and CrO₄²ˉ. Such behaviour is similar to that observed for hydride-forming elements (e.g. As, Sb, Se). The reasons for the higher signal for lower oxidation state of transition elements are complex and likely attributed mainly to changes in the kinetics of the reaction of ions with THB.

To demonstrate that Fe, Mn and Cr are transported to ICP as volatile species, and not as a fine aerosol formed in the chamber due to a turbulent reaction between THB and acid, the sample solutions were spiked with 10 µg mL^-1 of Mg. Magnesium is considered to be an element which does not form any volatile compounds with THB and is only transported in aerosol form. According to our previous work,¹⁵ boron is transported to plasma in the same way. Behavior of the B and Mg signals on one side and the Fe, Mn and Cr signals on the other side was quite different. For clarity, only the analyte and boron lines were shown in Figure 2. The generation of Fe, Mn and Cr species took place only at low acidity, where reaction between the reductant and acid runs less violently. At higher turbulence, the Mg and B lines were more intensive, but analyte line intensities decreased drastically. Additionally, the CVG reactions with Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions were conducted in the presence of EDTA (a strong complexing agent). Suppression of the analyte responses was also observed. These results are clear evidence that Fe, Mn and Cr signals arise due to a chemical process. Transport of aerosol introduced with the gas phase into plasma during the CVG reaction was very small and depended on experimental conditions. For magnesium, it was measured to be about 0.005% in the range of volatile species generation, and at high turbulence of CVG reactions (1% (m/v) THB with 1mol L^-1 HCl) it did not exceed 0.01%.

Conditions for the generation of Mn, Fe and Cr vapors differed significantly from those for hydride-forming elements. The highest responses (Figure 2) were obtained much before the so called CV point (critical value), corresponded to the point at which the equivalent of acid is equal to the sum of THB + NaOH. Our results for Fe, Mn and Cr are in agreement with those reported as mild conditions for CVG, in the case of the transition metals.^6-9

Effect of THB concentration in HCl medium

Vapor generation from Fe, Mn and Cr ions, with 0.25‑3.0% (m/v) THB and 0.01-1.0 mol L^-1 HCl, was examined. The results are given in Figure 3.

The dependencies of the Mn, Fe and Cr signals on the THB concentration were characteristic for each metal and were also similar among metal forms. Reaction runs more effectively for the lower oxidation states of the metals. The maximum signals of the Fe, Mn and Cr were found at different THB concentrations, but at similar HCl concentrations, i.e. 0.05-0.075 mol L^-1.

The Fe signal (Figure 3a) increased up to 0.5% (m/v) THB. Above this concentration the Fe emission decreased. For Fe²⁺ changes were significant and rapid. Reduction of Fe³⁺ was less efficient. In the region of 1-2% (m/v) THB, the Fe²⁺ signal was about 3 times higher than that from Fe³⁺.

The Mn signal from Mn ions (Figure 3b) increased with the THB concentration. The highest Mn line intensity was obtained at 1.0% (m/v). Further growth in THB amounts caused a continuous decrease in the Mn signal for Mn²⁺, and a rapid for MnO₄ˉ. The response obtained from MnO₄ˉ was, on average, ca. 2.5 times lower than the response from Mn²⁺.

The relationships for Cr were quite different (Figure 3c). It was found that Cr volatile species could be effectively generated only at a very low THB concentration. The highest responses from Cr³⁺ and CrO₄²ˉ were attained at a THB concentration of 0.25% (m/v). For the higher THB amounts, the Cr signal was systematically reduced. The Cr³⁺ signal was around 2 times higher than that of the CrO₄²ˉ signal.

Summarizing, the 0.5, 1.0 and 0.25% (m/v) THB concentrations were observed here, as optimal for generation of the volatile Fe, Mn and Cr species, respectively.

Investigation of the HCl-THB effect on chemical vapor generation efficiencies of Fe, Mn and Cr species indicates that both HCl and THB are critical variables. As it was shown in Figures 2-3 the optimized conditions are different for all the elements investigated here. Generally, at selected and fixed HCl concentration we initially observed appearing of distinct signal maximum increasing with concentration of THB. With further growth in THB concentration, signal maximum disappeared and the relation between analyte responce and HCl concentration was typical for aerosol transport to plasma.

Effect of acid type and concentration

The effect of the HCl, CH₃COOH and citric acid on the analytes responses was studied in a concentration range of 0.01 to 1.0 mol L^-1. An optimal THB concentration for Fe, Mn and Cr species generation were used. The results showing the highest reactivities for lower oxidation states of the metals were collected and compared in Figure 4.

HCl was found to be the most favourable medium. At a concentration of 0.075 mol L^-1 for Fe²⁺ and Cr³⁺, and at a concentration of 0.05 mol L^-1 for Mn²⁺, the highest intensities of Fe, Mn and Cr lines were reached. At such conditions, the responses from Fe³⁺, MnO₄ˉ and CrO₄²ˉ were 4.2, 1.8 and 2.2 lower than those of Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺.

For CH₃COOH, the highest responses from Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ were obtained at a concentration of 0.075 mol L^-1, but their signals were 2-3 times lower than those obtained in HCl. In citric acid_, the maximum of the Fe signal was shifted towards lower acidity. The maximum was reached at a concentration of 0.025 mol L^-1. In such a citric acid concentration, the Fe²⁺ response was 2 times lower in comparison to the signal obtained in 0.075 mol L^-1 HCl. The Mn signal in citric acid, as well as the Cr signals in acetic and citric acids, were not sufficiently intensive to be measured.

Summarizing, HCl acid was found to be the best reaction medium for Fe, Mn and Cr volatile species generation.

Effect of the sample, acid and THB flow rates

The influence of the flow rates, of the reagents (i.e. sample, acid and reductant) on the analyte signals during vapor generation from the Fe²⁺ Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions, was examined. It was found, that an increase in the flow rates from 0.25 to 1.0 ml L^-1 led to a 6-fold enhancement of the signals. Above this point, the signals started to decrease and the repeatability of the measurements became poorer. Such an effect was probably due to a larger production of H₂, leading to instability of plasma. As a result, the reagent flow rates of 1.0 ml L^-1 were used here.

Effect of the reaction coil length

Maximum Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ responses were observed if the reaction coil was short. In our case it was a 6 cm coil. An increase in the coil length of up to 60 cm caused a 5-fold decrease in analyte signals.

Analytical performance

Under optimized CVG conditions, the analytical figures of merit for Fe, Mn and Cr species, i.e. the limits of detection (LOD), linear dynamic ranges (LDR), linearity coefficients (r²), slopes of calibrations (a) and precision of measurements of analytes signal (expressed by RSD) were examined. The LOD, RSD and r² values as well as the slope coefficients are listed in Table 2. Table 2 includes also some results achieved for pneumatic nebulization (PN). Calibration graphs for Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ were shown in Figure 5.

Linearity of the Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ signals was observed to 100 µg mL^-1, although in the case of chromium two linear ranges could be distinguished. The Fe²⁺ signal was linear only up to 5 µg mL^-1. After that, the Fe²⁺ response was not proportional, and appearance of a black precipitate in the reacting mixture occurred.

The RSD values, noticed at chemical vapor generation from Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺, were higher than those observed when applying pneumatic nebulization for measuring Mn and Cr by ICP OES. Precisions of the ICP OES measurements of Fe using the CVG and PN technique were similar. For the CVG process the RSD values were dependent on the analyte concentration.

The LODs were about 2-3 times lower, on average, for the Fe²⁺ Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ than those for Fe³⁺, MnO₄ˉ and CrO₄²ˉ_. The obtained values were about one order higher than those for PN. Efficiency of chemical vapor generation was calculated by comparison of CVG slopes with PN slopes. At a 2% efficiency of nebulizer-cyclonic chamber system used here, the following efficiency values were obtained: 0.26% for Mn²⁺, 0.24% for Fe²⁺ and 0.23% for Cr³⁺.

Our results for Fe and Cr are difficult to compare with those reported by Peña-Vázquez et al.³ due to different experimental conditions applied in our investigation. Nevertheless, our LOD values were 3 times higher for Fe but 4 times lower for Cr.

Conclusions

For the first time, an investigation of chemical vapor generation of volatile species from Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, CrO₄²ˉ, Mn²⁺ and MnO₄ˉ ions in the reaction with THB in acidic media was demonstrated. Efficiencies of the volatile species formation were higher for lower oxidation states of metals. The optimal CVG conditions were far from typical conditions for hydride-forming elements in the borohydride generation technique. The influence of the experimental parameters on the response of the Fe, Cr and Mn analytes was very significant and stronger than in the case of such elements as e.g. As, Bi or Sb. The high effectiveness of the CVG process was observed for relatively narrow ranges of HCl (from 0.05 to 0.075 mol L^-1) and THB (0.5‑1.0% (m/v)) concentrations. Results of analytical performance show that further studies devoted to improvement of the detection limits are necessary.

Submitted: November 26, 2010

Published online: February 22, 2011

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 June 2011
• Date of issue
  June 2011

History

• Received
  26 Nov 2010
• Accepted
  22 Feb 2011