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Makombe M, van der Horst C, Somerset V. Improved borate fusion technique for determination of rare earth elements in electronic waste components. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2023; 44:1047-1060. [PMID: 34649466 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2021.1994017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The information regarding the abundance of rare earth elements (REEs) in electronic waste components (EWC) helps the recycling industry. However, after the end of use, improper disposal may be detrimental to the environment by releasing toxic substances. An optimised alkaline borate fusion method for REEs determination in electronic waste (e-waste) was developed. It is divided into three phases. Firstly, the sample preparation stages were investigated. Secondly, the optimisation of experimental particulars comprises the choice of oxidiser, flux composition, non-wetting agents, fusion time, and sample to flux ratio. The third phase consists of spectroscopic determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The highest REEs recovery (mg/g of e-waste) were found more in fine fractions of less than 0.09 mm compared to gross fractions. The optimum and safe fusion conditions for e-waste were achieved after slow thermal decomposition up to 550°C, pulverisation to 90% of -53 µm, flux composition (90%LiBO2 + 10% Li2B4O7), 3:1 oxidant ratio of Na2CO3: NaNO3, LiBr as the non-wetting agent. Also, a sample to flux ratio of 1:15 and a total fusion time of 10 min was optimised. The newly improved alkaline fusion results compared better to those obtained from classical mineral acid dissolution with at most 5% RSD on REEs studied. The alkaline borate fusion results in smartphones e-waste were at least 15% and 25% higher than in four acid digest and microwave-assisted digest techniques, respectively. The results indicated enrichment of REEs in smartphones followed by non-smartphones and computer waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Makombe
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa
- Scientific Services Consulting Analytical Laboratory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Charlton van der Horst
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Vernon Somerset
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa
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Comparison of the fluctuations of the signals measured by ICP-MS after laser ablation of powdered geological materials prepared by four methods. ANAL SCI 2023; 39:999-1014. [PMID: 36856987 DOI: 10.1007/s44211-023-00309-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Sample preparation is a crucial point for quantitative multi-elemental analses by LA-ICP-MS of powdered geological materials. Four different methods are compared in this study with respect to signal stability and intensity as follows: the preparation of glass beads (GlassB) by alkaline fusion method and three grinding and pelletizing methods relying on the use of an organic binder (VanBind, vanillic acid), an adhesive binder (MixGlue, methyl methacrylate) and a sol-gel process for glass formation (SolGel, chemical reaction of tetraethoxysilane), respectively. Sixty elements were analyzed by means of a ns-UV (213 nm) laser ablation system coupled to a single collector sector field ICP-MS with a low or medium mass resolution. Signal stability was found to strongly depend on the sample homogeneity provided by the preparation method. These methods were applied to three geological standard materials (CRM). The following criteria were used to evaluate and compare the methods: (1) proportion of the measurement cycles which are above a given signal intensity threshold (defined here as signal average ± 3 times the standard deviation), (2) signal stability of the analyzed nuclides (internal precision estimated by the relative standard deviations on raw count rates), (3) signal stability of the internal standards added to the samples, (4) external precision estimated by the relative standard deviation over five preparations for each geological CRM. For the majority of the analyzed elements, signals measured for samples prepared with the four methods are reproducible. Specific contamination in one or several elements (Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Au and Bi) was observed depending on the sample preparation method. In addition, compared to grinding made with PTFE material, grinding performed with tungsten carbide material was found to produce better homogeneity, especially for the sol-gel and mixing with glue protocols, although some metallic contamination (W and Co) was observed. Thanks to the suppression of grain effects by alkaline melting, the glass bead method systematically provided signal stability and percentage of "over the threshold" close to those of the NIST glasses. This may be explained by the preparation of more homogeneous samples by alkaline melting. Finally, the described methods were found to be reproducible for the majority of the analyzed elements.
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Pan H, Feng L, Lu Y, Han Y, Xiong J, Li H. Calibration strategies for laser ablation ICP-MS in biological studies: A review. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Zhu Y, Gonzalez JJ, Yang X, Chan GCY, He X, Kostecki R, Mao X, Russo RE, Zorba V. Calcium fluoride as a dominating matrix for quantitative analysis by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS): A feasibility study. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1129:24-30. [PMID: 32891387 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Calcium fluoride formed by the reaction between ammonium bifluoride and calcium chloride was investigated as a dominating matrix for quantitative analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Transformation from a solid sample to the calcium fluoride-based matrix permitted quantitative analysis based on calibration standards made from elemental standards. A low abundance stable calcium isotope, i.e. 44Ca+, was monitored as the internal standard for quantitative analysis by LA-ICP-MS. Correlation coefficient factors for multiple elements were obtained with values over 0.999. The results for multiple elements in a certified reference material of soil (NIST SRM 2710a) agreed with the certified values in the range of expanded uncertainty, indicating the present method was valid for quantitation of elements in solid samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbei Zhu
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan.
| | - Jhanis J Gonzalez
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Applied Spectra, 46665 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA, 94538, USA
| | - Xinyan Yang
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Optoelectric Materials Science and Technology, Department of Physics, Anhui Normal University, JiuHua South Road No.189, Wuhu, Anhui, 241002, China
| | - George C-Y Chan
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Xin He
- Energy Storage Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Robert Kostecki
- Energy Storage Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Xianglei Mao
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Richard E Russo
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Applied Spectra, 46665 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA, 94538, USA
| | - Vassilia Zorba
- Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage & Distributed Resources Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Lehmann EL, Arruda MAZ. Minimalist strategies applied to analysis of forensic samples using elemental and molecular analytical techniques - A review. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1063:9-17. [PMID: 30967190 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Forensic science is an emerging field driven by a number of factors, and the development of different methods of analyses, instruments, and techniques is of great help to experts in the field. Sampling and sample preparation in forensic cases are of utmost importance, and therefore, the methods for processing (or not) the samples are critical for acquiring accurate results. Some alternatives for attaining the minimalist concept, i.e. little or no sample treatment, are discussed in this review. For elemental analysis, analytical techniques, such as X-ray spectrometry, laser-ablation mass spectrometry, laser-induced breakdown spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and optical emission spectrometry, and Mössbauer spectrometry are overviewed. Molecular analysis, such as Raman spectroscopy, and ambient ionization mass spectrometry are discussed. Some representative examples are presented that involve in situ analysis, counterfeit bank notes and documents, post-mortem and bone analyses, and forensic analysis of drugs, glass, fingerprints, biological fluids and explosives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eraldo Luiz Lehmann
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Group of Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization - GEPAM, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Zezzi Arruda
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT for Bioanalytics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Group of Spectrometry, Sample Preparation and Mechanization - GEPAM, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Unicamp, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Voss M, Nunes MA, Corazza G, Flores EM, Müller EI, Dressler VL. A new approach to calibration and determination of selected trace elements in food contact polymers by LA-ICP-MS. Talanta 2017; 170:488-495. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Grate JW, Gonzalez JJ, O'Hara MJ, Kellogg CM, Morrison SS, Koppenaal DW, Chan GCY, Mao X, Zorba V, Russo RE. Solid matrix transformation and tracer addition using molten ammonium bifluoride salt as a sample preparation method for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analyst 2017; 142:3333-3340. [DOI: 10.1039/c7an00777a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Spike addition in reactive solid matrix transformation (SMT) enables internal standards for laser ablation analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay W. Grate
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xianglei Mao
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Berkeley
- USA
| | | | - Richard E. Russo
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Berkeley
- USA
- Applied Spectra
- Fremont
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Limbeck A, Galler P, Bonta M, Bauer G, Nischkauer W, Vanhaecke F. Recent advances in quantitative LA-ICP-MS analysis: challenges and solutions in the life sciences and environmental chemistry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 407:6593-617. [PMID: 26168964 PMCID: PMC4545187 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8858-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a widely accepted method for direct sampling of solid materials for trace elemental analysis. The number of reported applications is high and the application range is broad; besides geochemistry, LA-ICP-MS is mostly used in environmental chemistry and the life sciences. This review focuses on the application of LA-ICP-MS for quantification of trace elements in environmental, biological, and medical samples. The fundamental problems of LA-ICP-MS, such as sample-dependent ablation behavior and elemental fractionation, can be even more pronounced in environmental and life science applications as a result of the large variety of sample types and conditions. Besides variations in composition, the range of available sample states is highly diverse, including powders (e.g., soil samples, fly ash), hard tissues (e.g., bones, teeth), soft tissues (e.g., plants, tissue thin-cuts), or liquid samples (e.g., whole blood). Within this article, quantification approaches that have been proposed in the past are critically discussed and compared regarding the results obtained in the applications described. Although a large variety of sample types is discussed within this article, the quantification approaches used are similar for many analytical questions and have only been adapted to the specific questions. Nevertheless, none of them has proven to be a universally applicable method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Limbeck
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Division of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/164, 1060, Vienna, Austria,
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On-line double isotope dilution laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of solid materials. Anal Chim Acta 2014; 851:64-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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