Selective determination of palladium by on-line column preconcentration and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Selective Preconcentration of Gold from Ore Samples

A simple and selective method has been developed for preconcentration of gold in ore samples. The method is based on use of N, N-diethyl-N'-benzoylthiourea (DEBT) as selective chelating agent and Amberlite XAD-16 as solid sorbent. Sorption behavior of gold with DEBT impregnated resin under optimized conditions has been studied in batch process. The gold ion capacity of the impregnated resin is calculated as 33.48 mg g⁻¹ resin (0.17 mmol g⁻¹ resin). The selective preconcentration of metal was examined using gold chelates prepared in column process under optimized conditions: pH, flow rate, volume of sample solution, nature of eluent, flow rate, and volume of eluent. Under optimum conditions, gold ions at the concentration of 0.015 μg mL⁻¹ with a preconcentration factor of 6.7 have been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The accuracy of the proposed method was validated by the analysis of a Cu-ore (semi-certified) supplied by CMC (Cyprus Mining Company, North Cyprus) and a certified reference material, Gold Ore (MA-1b Canmet-MMSL). Satisfactory results were obtained with a RSD of 7.6%. The highly selective proposed method does not require any interference elimination process.

Determination of traffic-related palladium in tunnel dust and roadside soil

Roadside dust and soil samples were collected at different sites in the area of Ulm and Munich in Germany. Road dust samples were collected in tunnels where the traffic-related dust is less influenced by atmospheric conditions. Soil samples were taken with a drill bar at varying distances to motorways, district and regional roads with different traffic densities. The soil cylinders of 30cm length were divided into four sections in order to obtain depth profiles for palladium (Pd) distribution. Determination of Pd in total digests of the samples was performed by ligand-assisted selective separation and preconcentration of Pd(II) using solid phase extraction followed by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace spectrometry. The analytical procedure was successfully validated using the certified reference material BCR-723 Road Tunnel Dust and by recovery experiments in spiked soil samples. The average Pd concentration found in the road dusts was 311μgkg^-1, the maximum Pd concentration in the topsoil layer was 193μgkg^-1. Pd depth profiles reveal transportation of Pd into deeper soil layers, where even at a depth of 25 to 30cm a Pd concentration of 19μgkg^-1 was found, proving the high mobility of Pd. Different factors like traffic density and age of the soils are discussed in the context of the found Pd depth profiles.

Rare, hypodentate L-κS coordination mode of N,N-dialkyl-N′-aroylthioureas leads to unprecedented mixed-ligand [Pt(phen)(L-κS)2] complexes

Unprecedented [Pt(phen)(L¹-κS)₂] complexes with two N,N-dibutyl-N′-1-naphthoyl-thioureato molecules coordinated in a rare, hypodentate (L-κS)⁻ mode, stabilised by intra-molecular π–cation type stacking have been isolated. In contrast N,N-diethyl-N′-pivaloyl-thiourea, binds in a bidentate (L-κS,O) mode to give the [Pt(phen)(L³-κS,O)]⁺ species, the [Pt(phen)(L³-κS)₂] complex being unstable.

Rapid spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of palladium in water samples after dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

A simple, rapid, and efficient dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method, followed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry was developed for the preconcentration and determination of Pd ions in water samples. Pd ions react with α-furildioxime (chelating agent) to form a hydrophobic complex. Various parameters were altered to study and optimize their effects on the extraction efficiency, such as pH, ligand concentration, the type and volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, and salt concentration. Under optimized conditions, the method exhibited an enrichment factor (C org/C aq) of 25 and recovery more than 98 % within a very short extraction time. The linearity of the method ranged from 10 to 200 μg L(-1). The limit of detection was 1.1 μg L(-1). The relative standard deviation for the concentration of 100 μg L(-1) of Pd was 2.3 % (n = 10). Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of Pd in tap, river, mineral, and sea water samples.

Speciation of platinum-benzoylthiourea in the gas phase using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and density functional theory

RATIONALE

Determining the speciation of platinum-benzoylthiourea (Pt-BTU) in the gas phase is a challenging task due to various reaction pathways and the conformational flexibility of the BTU ligand.

METHODS

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) based calculations were carried out to shed light on this complex reaction in the gas phase using K2 PtCl4 salt and BTU. Various Pt complexes were studied in both positive and negative ion modes of ESI-MS using a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The effects of the ESI-MS experimental parameters such as capillary voltage, pH and electrolyte on the peak intensity of the Pt-BTU complex were investigated. DFT calculations employing B3LYP functional with the 6-311++G** basis set were used to characterize the geometric parameters and fragmentation patterns of various Pt complexes in the gas phase.

RESULTS

In the positive ion mode, complexes with differing numbers of BTU ligands coordinated to the metal ion were observed, whereas, in the negative ion mode, no species associated with BTU or with the solvent (acetonitrile) molecules were found. It was also found that Pt forms complexes with the BTU ligand in different stoichiometric ratios. For both Pt(BTU)2 and Pt(BTU)3 complexes, the BTU ligand undergoes deprotonation followed by bi-dentate coordination. DFT calculations suggest that BTU can coordinate to Pt in both cis and trans isomeric forms, which are nearly iso-energetic with a slight preference towards the trans-isomer. The preference of trans-BTU binding is attributed to the exclusive retention of intra-molecular hydrogen bonding which is absent in the cis-form.

CONCLUSIONS

Experimental and theoretical calculations have shown that the gas-phase interaction of BTU to Pt is very complex. The BTU ligand can coordinate to Pt in both mono-dentate and bi-dentate modes, the latter mode being favorable upon deprotonation of the BTU ligand. Furthermore, many close lying species with different geometric isomeric forms are found to be possible due to the presence of intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding.

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric studies for the determination of palladium after pre-concentration by disposable pipette extraction

RATIONALE

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) analysis of Pd in complex matrices is difficult due to the multiplicity of matrix effects. Two different approaches, internal standard and matrix separation, were investigated for developing a reliable analytical procedure for the trace level determination of Pd in simulated high-level liquid waste (SHLLW) solutions.

METHODS

An ESI mass spectrometer with a quadrupole-time-of-flight analyser was used to study the speciation of the palladium-benzoylthiourea (Pd-BTU) complex and to determine the Pd content. The Pd-BTU complex was selectively pre-concentrated using disposable pipette extraction (DPX). Extraction parameters as well as ESI-MS parameters such as concentration of BTU, acidity, composition of medium and capillary voltage, etc., were optimized based on the major species [Pd(BTU)(2)S](+).

RESULTS

The method gave quantitative and selective pre-concentration of the Pd-BTU complex from SHLLW. Linearity from 5 ppb to 200 ppb and a limit of detection of 0.012 ppb were obtained for Pd. No interference from the neighboring elements, viz. ruthenium, rhodium, silver and cadmium, was observed during the determination of Pd based on the [Pd(BTU)(2)S](+) peak. The ESI signal intensity was not influenced by the presence of the many other elements in the SHLLW solution.

CONCLUSIONS

Good sensitivity, tolerance to matrix concentration and the absence of interference from neighboring elements make the method very promising for the determination of Pd at low levels in complex samples. We have demonstrated the capability of ESI-MS for the quantification of Pd in complex matrices and its potential for providing data on speciation, using the Pd-BTU complex.

Novel palladium(II) selective membrane electrode based on 4-[(5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino)methyl]benzene-1,3-diol

A plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode based on 4-[(5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino)methyl]benzene-1,3-diol (L) for highly selective determination of palladium(II) (in PdCl42– form) is developed. The electrode showed a good Nernstian response (29.6 ± 0.4 mV per decade) over a wide concentration range (3.1 × 10–7 to 1.0 × 10–2 mol l–1). The limit of detection was 1.5 × 10–7 mol l–1. The electrode has a response time of about 20 s, and it can be used for at least 2 months without observing any considerable deviation from Nernstian response. The proposed electrode could be used in the pH range of 2.5–5.5. The practical utility of the electrode has been demonstrated by its use for the estimation of palladium content in aqueous samples.

Long-term study of palladium in road tunnel dust and sewage sludge ash

The present work summarizes data about palladium contents of road tunnel dust from 1994 to 2007 and sewage sludge ash from 1972 to 2006. Since palladium is emitted from automotive catalytic converters as elemental particles, road dust is quiet useful to study traffic-related Pd emissions. Very high Pd values of up to 516 microg Pd kg(-1) were found in the road dust samples collected in 2007. Heavy metals of all urban emissions, also dental practice effluent, are enriched in sewage sludge ash and thus this matrix is useful for the documentation of palladium emission caused by the use of Pd alloys in dental medicine. In sewage sludge ash highest Pd contents of maximum 460 microg Pd kg(-1) were found in the years 1986-1997. In both matrices correlations of Pd content to Pd demand of industry are discussed.

Automated On-Line Preconcentration of Palladium on Different Sorbents and its Determination in Environmental Samples

The determination of noble metals in environmental samples is of increasing importance. Palladium is often employed as a catalyst in chemical industry and is also used with platinum and rhodium in motor car catalytic converters which might cause environmental pollution problems. Two different sorbents for palladium preconcentration in different samples were investigated: silica gel functionalized with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridyl)methylene tbiocarbohydrazide (DPTH-gel) and [1,5-Bis(2-pyridyl)-3-sulphophenyI methylene thiocarbonohydrazide (PSTH) immobilised on an anion-exchange resin (Dowex lx8-200)]. The sorbents were tested in a micro-column, placed in the auto-sampler arm, at the flow rate 2.8 mL min(-1). Elution was performed with 4 M HCl and 4 M HNO3, respectively. Satisfactory results were obtained for two sorbents.

Trends in Sorption Preconcentration Combined with Noble Metal Determination

Nowadays much attention is being paid to the determination of trace amounts of noble metals in geological, industrial, biological and environmental samples. The most promising techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) are characterized by high sensitivity. However, the accurate determination of trace noble metals has been limited by numerous interferences generated from the presence of matrix elements. To decrease, or eliminate, these interferences, the sorption preconcentration of noble metals is often used prior to their instrumental detection. A great number of hyphenated methods of noble metal determination using sorption preconcentration have been developed. This review describes the basic types of available sorbents, preconcentration procedures and preparations of the sorbent to the subsequent determination of noble metals. The specific features of instrumental techniques and examples of ETAAS, FAAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS determinations after the sorption preconcentration of noble metals are considered. The references cited here were selected mostly from the period 1996 - 2006.

Microwave-assisted UV-digestion procedure for the accurate determination of Pd in natural waters

A procedure was developed for the selective determination of Pd in environmental aquatic solutions. The method is based on a preliminary microwave-assisted UV-digestion for the degradation of dissolved organic material, and the subsequent determination of Pd using a recently presented enrichment procedure with ETAAS detection. Due to the simultaneous use of microwave and UV irradiation only extremely small quantities of hydrogen peroxide were necessary to yield a quantitative degradation of interfering organic ligands. Thus the on-line pre-concentration of Pd in the digested samples using the complexing agent N,N-diethyl-N'-benzoylthiourea was possible without any further sample pre-treatment. Using a sample volume of 1.57 ml for FI-ETAAS analysis a limit of detection of 15 ng l(-1) was obtained for the combined procedure, with a relative standard deviation being not more than 4.9%. The method was applied to quantify the water-soluble fraction of Pd in urban road dust. Extractions with a rain sample of pH 5.9 revealed that an average of 2.2% (n=8) of the total Pd present in urban road dust was water soluble.

Solid-Phase Extraction on Alkyl-bonded Silica Gels in Inorganic Analysis

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is an effective tool for the preconcentration of trace elements and their separation from various sample constituents. Octadecyl and other alkyl-bonded silica gels are most widely used for these purposes. The fundamentals of the SPE of inorganic ions are reviewed and compared with those of related techniques (liquid-liquid extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography). The extraction of ions in the form of chelate compounds, inorganic salts solvated by neutral reagents, and ion-pair compounds is considered. Numerous applications of SPE to the separation and preconcentration of different elements and their species, including on-line combinations with instrumental determination techniques, are described and tabulated.

Selective quantification of trace palladium in road dusts and roadside soils by displacement solid-phase extraction online coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

There is a growing concern about the effect of palladium on human health because of the toxicity and increasing occurrence of palladium as a result of its extensive use in automotive catalytic converters. Development of reliable analytical methodologies for the determination of palladium in environmental materials is of great importance for critical evaluation of the possible risks for human health. In this work, a displacement solid-phase extraction technique was developed and online coupled to electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) for selective and sensitive determination of trace palladium in environmental samples without need of any special selective complexing agents, selective sorbents, and masking agents. The developed methodology involved the online formation of copper pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (Cu-PDC), and the resultant Cu-PDC was extracted onto a microcolumn packed with the sorbent from a cigarette filter. Trace Pd(II) was selectively preconcentrated through loading the sample solution onto the microcolumn by online displacement reaction between Pd(II) and the extracted Cu-PDC on the microcolumn. The retained analyte was subsequently eluted with 40 microL of ethanol for online ETAAS determination. Interferences from coexisting heavy metal ions with lower stability of their PDC complexes relative to Cu-PDC were minimized. The tolerable concentrations of Cd-(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), and Zn(II) were up to 2, 6, 40, 2, 1.5, and at least 100 mg L(-1), respectively. Compared with conventional solid-phase extraction methodology, the developed displacement solid-phase extraction protocol gave 2-4 orders of magnitude improvement in the maximum tolerable concentrations of coexisting heavy metal ions. With the consumption of only 2.8 mL of sample solution, an enhancement factor of 52 and a detection limit (3sigma) of 18 ng L(-1) were achieved at a sample throughput of 30 samples h(-1). The precision (RSD, n = 13) was 2.5% at the 1 microg L(-1) level. The present methodology was successfully applied to selective determination of trace palladium in local road dusts and roadside soils.

Reactions of halogens with Pt(ii) complexes of N-alkyl- and N,N-dialkyl-N′-benzoylthioureas: oxidative addition and formation of an I2 inclusion compound

The treatment of cis-[Pt(II)(L(1a/b)-S,O)2] complexes of N,N-diethyl- (HL(1a)) and N,N-di(n-butyl)-N'-benzoylthiourea (HL(1b)) with I2 or Br2 in chloroform, leads to rapid oxidative addition to yield several geometric isomers of [Pt(IV)(L-S,O)(2)X(2)](X = I, Br); the reactions can be monitored by (195)Pt NMR and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The products cis-[Pt(IV)(L(1a)-S,O)2I2] and cis-[Pt(IV)(L(1a)-S,O)2Br2], which have been isolated and structurally characterized, are the first-reported crystal structures of complexes of Pt(iv) with this class of ligand. Molecules of 6 pack such that the I-Pt-I axes are essentially aligned, with unusually close nearest-neighbour iodide contacts (3.553(1)A). These short II intermolecular interactions lead to infinite chains of weakly connected molecules in crystals of the compound. No such interactions are evident in the corresponding crystals of . Reaction of the Pt(II) complex of N-propyl-N'-benzoylthiourea (H2L(2a))cis-/trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2Br2] with Br2 also results in oxidative addition, to yield trans-Pt(IV)(H2L(2a)-S)2Br4. By contrast, treatment of cis-/trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2] with I2 does not lead to an oxidative addition product, yielding instead an interesting iodine inclusion compound of Pt(II), trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2.I2. In 8, short intermolecular II distances of 3.453(1)A between I2 and coordinated iodide ions in trans-[Pt(II)(H(2)L(2a)-S)(2)I(2)] molecules, result in infinite chains of weakly linked trans-[Pt(II)(H2L(2a)-S)2I2]...I2 groups in the lattice. However, the empirically estimated bond order of 0.75 for the included I2 molecules does not support the possible existence of discrete tetraiodide ions (I4(2-)) in the lattice of compound 8.

Photoinduced isomerisation of cis-[M(L-S,O)2] (M = Ptiiand Pdii) complexes of N,N-diethyl-N′-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylthiourea: key to preparation of the trans isomer

In acetonitrile solutions at room temperature, cis-[M(L-S,O)2] Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes of N,N-diethyl-N'-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylthiourea undergo reversible photoinduced isomerisation to the corresponding trans isomer upon irradiation with visible light in the 320-570 nm range, the rate and extent of isomerisation being significantly higher for the cis-[Pd(L-S,O)2] complex compared to the Pt(II) analogue; in the dark trans-[M(L-S,O)2] cleanly reverts back to the cis complex at a rate dependent on the solution temperature, indicating a thermally controlled reverse process.

On-line preconcentration, ion chromatographic separation and spectrophotometric determination of palladium at trace level

A new method for the determination of Pd by ion chromatography and spectrophotometric detection has been developed. The technique is based on the separation of palladium as PdCl4(2-) by anion exchange and on the detection, at a wavelength of 407 nm, of metal as PdI4(2-) after a post-column reaction with KI. The column used was an IonPac AS4 with HCl and HClO4 eluents. The eluent concentration and composition of post-column reagent were optimised in order to obtain the best separation and sensitivity for Pd. In order to reduce the detection limit, an on-line preconcentration step, has been optimised. The method, as developed, was suitable for palladium determination within a 300 ng/l D.L. value. The method applied to a BCR reference material (CRM 277, estuarine sediment) gave satisfactory results in agreement with the certified value within a D.L. value of 1.3 microg/l for the real sample.

On-line separation and preconcentration of silver ion on amidino-thiourea immobilized glass beads packing in flow injection analysis with atomic absorption spectrometric detection

Amidino-thiourea immobilized glass beads (AGB I) were prepared and used as the microcolumn packing for the flow injection (FI) on-line separation and preconcentration of Ag(I) coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) determination. Base metal ions and anions with a concentration of 2.0 mg mL(-1) had no interference with the determination of Ag(I). The limit of detection (LOD) of Ag(I) for a preconcentration time of 60 s with a sampling flow rate of 5.0 mL min(-1) for 40.0 ng mL(-1) of Ag(I) were 0.50 ng mL(-1) with the peak-height absorbance mode and 1.26 ng mL(-1) with the peak-area absorbance mode, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of 7 replicate determinations were 0.9% and 0.7% for the peak-height absorbance (H) and the peak-area absorbance (A), respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Ag(I) in ore samples.

Levels and risk assessment for humans and ecosystems of platinum-group elements in the airborne particles and road dust of some European cities

Traffic is the main source of platinum-group element (PGE) contamination in populated urban areas. There is increasing concern about the hazardous effects of these new pollutants for people and for other living organisms in these areas. Airborne and road dusts, as well as tree bark and grass samples were collected at locations in the European cities of Göteborg (Sweden), Madrid (Spain), Rome (Italy), Munich (Germany), Sheffield and London (UK). Today, in spite of the large number of parameters that can influence the airborne PGE content, the results obtained so far indicate significantly higher PGE levels at traffic sites compared with the rural or non-polluted zones that have been investigated (background levels). The average Pt content in airborne particles found in downtown Madrid, Göteborg and Rome is in the range 7.3-13.1 pg m(-3). The ring roads of these cities have values in the range 4.1-17.7 pg m(-3). In Munich, a lower Pt content was found in airborne particles (4.1 pg m(-3)). The same tendency has been noted for downtown Rh, with contents in the range 2.2-2.8 pg m(-3), and in the range 0.8-3.0 and 0.3 pg m(-3) for motorway margins in Munich. The combined results obtained using a wide-range airborne classifier (WRAC) collector and a PM-10 or virtual impactor show that Pt is associated with particles for a wide range of diameters. The smaller the particle size, the lower the Pt concentration. However, in particles <PM-10, some of the highest values correspond to the fraction <0.39 microm. Considering an average Pt content in all particles of approximately 15 pg m(-3), which is representative for all countries and environmental conditions, the tracheobronchial fraction represents approximately 10% and the alveolar fraction approximately 8% of the total particles suspended in air. However, from the environmental risk point of view, an exposure to PGEs in traffic-related ambient air is at least three orders of magnitude below the levels for which adverse health effects might theoretically occur (of approx. 100 ng m(-3)). Therefore, today inhalation exposure to PGEs from automotive catalysts does not seem to pose a direct health risk to the general population. Even though the data available today indicate no obvious health effects, there are still a number of aspects related to PGEs and catalysts that justify further research. First, continual monitoring of changes in PGE levels in air and road dust is warranted, to make sure that there is no dramatic increase from today's levels. Secondly, more detailed information on the chemical composition of the PGE-containing substances or complexes leaving the catalyst surface and the size distribution of the PGE-containing particles released during driving will facilitate a more in-depth human risk assessment.

Determination of palladium in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection after ultraviolet photolysis and selective solid-phase extraction

The high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection described below permits the selective determination of traces of palladium in human urine. After UV photolysis, during which the complete organic matrix was destroyed, the palladium was selectively enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The reversed-phase C18 SPE column material was loaded with the ligand N,N-diethyl-N'-benzoylthiourea (DEBT) which shows an excellent complexing capacity for palladium in acidic solutions and at room temperature. The Pd(DEBT)2 complex was eluted with ethanol. After isocratic separation on the analytical column (MeOH/H2O 98:2 (v/v)), the complex was detected at 274 nm. The detection limit was 10 ng Pd/l. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of the within-series imprecision were in the range between 11% (75 ng Pd/l) and 7% (180 ng Pd/l). The between-day imprecision was 11% (75 ng Pd/l) and 5% (180 ng Pd/l). The recovery rates ranged between 94 and 96%. Using this method, urine samples of 44 persons from the general population were analysed. Only in one urine sample could palladium be detected. For comparison, 10 persons with occupational palladium exposure were examined. The urinary concentrations ranged from <10 to 2,538 ng/l.