Development of the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) for platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) in natural waters

Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films technique for uranium monitoring along a salinity gradient: A comparative study on the performance of Chelex-100, Dow-PIWBA, Diphonix, and Lewatit FO 36 resin gels in the Scheldt estuary

Monitoring of uranium in the environment using the Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT) technique gains in importance as it can provide unique information about the bioavailability of the element and allows its long-term in-situ measurement. Hence, in this study, four DGT binding phases (Chelex-100, Dow-PIWBA, Diphonix, and Lewatit FO 36 resins) were evaluated for uranium monitoring to assess the robustness of their performance in estuarine and marine environments. These DGTs were deployed along the Scheldt estuary (Belgium and the Netherlands) over four campaigns between 2014 and 2021. The DGT performance (ratio of the DGT-determined vs. dissolved U concentration in grab water sample) varied with the water salinity. The Chelex-100 DGTs generally provided good performance in freshwater (median ratios close to 1.0), but an inverse correlation with the increasing salinity was observed (median ratios 0.7 at the stations with salinity >5). The Lewatit FO 36 DGTs provided good performance in the salinity range 0-18 (median ratios 1.0). However, a strong negative influence was observed at stations with high salinity levels (>18, ratio 0.6) and during the long-term deployment in seawater (ratios <0.5 over deployment periods ≥2 days). The Dow-PIWBA and Diphonix DGTs provided overall similar results with excellent performances along the whole salinity gradient (median ratios 1.1 and 1.0, respectively). Nevertheless, the long-term deployment trial in seawater (salinity ∼27) revealed the robustness of Diphonix DGTs that provided outstanding results even after 28 days of deployment (ratio 1.0). The differences in the performance of tested DGT resins were mostly given by the changes of U speciation along the salinity gradient. The speciation modelling of U showed that calcium uranyl carbonate complexes dominate along the Scheldt estuary (from 97 to 86% seawards) with increasing fraction of UO₂(CO₃)₃^4- (from 2 to 14%) towards the mouth.

Distribution of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) in urban tributaries of the Scheldt River assessed by diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT)

The performance of the newly developed DGT technique for the platinum group elements (PGEs) rhodium (Rh), platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) was evaluated in two tributaries of the Scheldt River, the Marque River close to the city of Lille (France), and the Zenne River which flows through the city of Brussels (Belgium). In the Marque River, an interlaboratory comparison was performed between the two laboratories where the DGT techniques dedicated to PGEs were developed (AMGC, VUB & LASIRE, U-Lille). PGEs were also analysed in an effluent of a Brussels hospital and monthly grab sampling was performed at the wastewater treatments plants (WWTPs) of Brussels. The concentrations of the 3 elements are higher in the Zenne River than in the Marque River and much higher Pt concentrations are found in the hospital effluent. Good agreement for Pt was observed between the three selected chelating resins and a relatively good agreement was observed between the two laboratories using the same chelating resin, whereas lower results were observed with the anion-exchange resin. Larger discrepancies between the two laboratories were observed for Pd and no comparison could be made for Rh due to the low natural concentrations. The results show that in small urban rivers with high impact of urbanization, WWTPs are an important source of Pt, resulting from the use of anticancer drugs in hospitals and households. The limited retention of PGEs in WWTPs results in increased concentrations in urban rivers downstream. For Pd and Rh, similar trends were found with other traffic related elements such as Cu, Zn and Pb, showing the highest concentrations in waters collecting runoff from a highway. The data show that these elements, together with Gd, can be useful to trace specific pollution sources and their dispersion.

Development and validation of DGT passive samplers for the quantification of Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru: A challenging application in waters impacted by urban activities

Platinum group elements (PGEs) are among the least abundant in the continental crust. They have become excellent tracers of anthropogenic activities, particularly due to their use in catalytic converters or in the medical industry. However, their quantification in environmental matrices is still problematic because of their low concentrations combined with the presence of interfering elements. Preconcentration methods are therefore necessary to measure accurate concentrations. In this study, the quantification of Ir, Rh, Ru, Pd and Pt was studied in depth by focusing on two resins: AG MP-1 (anion exchange) and Purolite® S-920 (chelating) with the aim of developing passive Diffusive Gradients in Thin films (DGT) samplers as in-situ pre-concentration tools. The characteristics of both resins (e.g. adsorption, elution, selectivity, etc.) were studied and the diffusion coefficients of PGEs in different matrices were determined. For the first time, carcinostatic platinum-based drugs were also studied. Better rates and percentages of adsorption were observed for S-920 while AG MP-1 was more selective with regard to spectral interferents and easier to elute. The diffusion coefficients of PGEs were resin-dependent, particularly for carcinostatic platinum-based drugs. For the first time, the applicability of these DGT samplers dedicated to PGEs was demonstrated in the field after their deployment in two wastewater treatment plants in Northern France for which concentrations were found to range from few pg L^-1 (Ir, Ru) to few ng L^-1 (Pt).

Elimination of interferences in the determination of platinum, palladium and rhodium by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) using selective elution

The analysis of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) in aquatic samples by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique using chelating resins, specific designed for the accumulation of PGEs, namely Purolite S914, S920 and Italmatch Chemicals IONQUEST® MPX-317. may however, still be influenced by the accumulation of other elements such (Cu, Zn, Pb, etc.) which will be extracted simultaneously by the hot aqua regia extraction and interfere with the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) analysis of the Platinum Group Elements (PGEs). Selective extractions were investigated to release the interfering elements without loss of the Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) from the resin gels. . A rinse with deionized water removes over 95% of Sr and Rb and a second rinse with 0.05 mol L^-1 H₂SO₄ can be used to as a common eluent to remove an important fraction of the interfering elements from S920 and S914 without loss of PGEs but this results in loss of around 15% of the PGEs from MPX-317. It was shown that selective extractions can be used to remove specific interferences from each resin gel.

Cysteine-modified silica resin in DGT samplers for mercury and trace metals assessment

Diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) is an in situ passive sampling technique to assess labile trace metal concentrations in different environmental matrix. The technique is consisting of a diffusive domain backed up by a resin gel that binds free metals and metal complexes that dissociate in the diffusive domain. This technique requires specific resin for special metals, for example mercury (Hg), since the classic resin (Chelex-100) gel is not applicable for Hg measurement. A simultaneous determination of Hg with other metals by the DGT was not yet reported. Two biomolecule-based resins were prepared by glutaraldehyde immobilisation of cysteine onto 3-amino-functionalised silica and 3-aminopropyl-functionalised silica, respectively. The load of functional groups on modified resins was qualitatively and quantitatively characterised. The modified resins were applied in the DGT technique and the uptake efficiency, elution efficiency, and linear accumulation of analytes of the DGT were tested. This novel DGT technique, using two cysteine-modified resins, can accumulate Hg and other metals in a broad range of pH and ionic strength in solutions. In the Belgian coastal zone (BCZ), the concentrations of Hg and other trace metals sampled by cysteine-modified resin-DGTs were similar as those by the other two DGT assemblies for Hg and other trace metals, respectively. The cysteine-modified silica resin combined the features of Chelex-100 resin and 3-mercaptopropyl silica resin and allowed simultaneous determination of labile Hg and other trace metals. The resin with a higher load of functional groups also showed higher performance in the further application in the DGT technique.

Determination of Mercury in Fish Sauces by Thermal Decomposition Gold Amalgamation Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy after Preconcentration by Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films Technique

The analysis of mercury in food presents a challenge for analytical chemists. Sample pre-treatment and the preconcentration of mercury prior to measurement are required, even when highly sensitive analytical methods are used. In this work, the Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films technique (DGT), combined with thermal decomposition gold amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA-AAS), was investigated for the determination of the total dissolved mercury in fish sauces. Moreover, a new type of binding gel with Purolite S924 resin was used in DGT. Linearity assays for DGT provided determination coefficients around 0.995. Repeatability tests showed a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. pH values in the range of 3–6, as well as NaCl concentrations up to 50 g·L⁻¹, did not affect the performance of DGT. The effective diffusion coefficient of mercury in five-fold diluted fish sauce was determined to be (3.42 ± 0.23)·10⁻⁶ cm²·s⁻¹. Based on the 24 h deployment time of DGT, the limit of detection (LOD) for the investigated method was 0.071 µg·L⁻¹. The proposed method, which combines DGT and TDA-AAS, allows for the analysis of fish sauces with mercury concentrations below the LOD of TDA-AAS, and significantly reduces the wear and corrosion of the TDA-AAS components.

Simultaneous determination of mercury, cadmium and lead in fish sauce using Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films technique

Fish sauce is a popular seasoning liquid originating from southeastern Asian cuisine, consisting of fermented fish, salt and additional ingredients. Fish can contain high amounts of metals, some of which are hazardous for human health. Therefore, authorities responsible for food safety and quality should monitor the levels of these contaminants in fish and fish deviated products. In this work, the passive sampling technique of Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT) containing Chelex-100 and Purolite S924 resin gels, is used for the determination of dissolved mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in fish sauce. The DGT performance test showed linear accumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb on the binding gels versus deployment time. A wide range of pH and salt concentration did not affect the performance of the DGT. The effective diffusion coefficients of Hg, Cd and Pb in diffusive gels were determined by applying a series of deployments in fish sauce solution. Besides the direct sampling with the DGT technique, fish sauce samples were also digested using a microwave oven. Analyses of DGT and microwave oven digested samples were performed with Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Both methods were then used for the analysis of fish sauces from local retail stores. Due to the preconcentration ability of DGT, lower detection limits of Hg, Cd and Pb could be achieved compared to the microwave digestion method. The DGT technique offers a more sensitive method for trace element analysis in complex food matrices.

Multi-elemental analysis of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 by ICP OES

The complexity of aerodynamic particulate matter's (PM) matrices poses a challenge for the extraction and quantification of metals, especially for analytes with low concentration. Aiming to solve this issue, a precise and accurate protocol with the ultrasound extraction combined with microwave radiation digestion (USMW), was applied to PM samples with excellent compensations in sample throughput, digestion efficiency, and energy consumption. After the digestion and extraction procedures, the inorganic analytes, including rare earth elements, were determined by ICP OES. Two types of particulate matter sampled from two stations, Gobernacion (GOB10 and GOB2.5) and Milan (MIL10), corresponding to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, were digested with a combination between HF, HNO₃, and H₃BO₃. The absolute limits of detection ranged from 0.42 pg m^-³ for V, to 3459 pg m^-³ for As. The accuracy of the experimental study was assessed using two certified reference materials (CRMs), Coal Fly Ash (NIST1633b) and Fly Ash (BCR176). The method presented good accuracy, with recoveries ranging from 90 to 115%, except for Al (120%) and Fe (123%). Considering the replicates for the determination of analyte elements, the repeatability was below 10% for the relative standard deviation (RSD). A cloud point extraction (CPE) procedure, with parameters optimized for the determination of Pd and Pt, was successfully applied in digested PM samples with detection limits of 1.43 and 2.05 pg m^-³ for Pd and Pt in MIL10 sample, respectively, and 76.6 pg m^-³ for Pd and 110 pg m^-³ for Pt, in samples GOB10 and GOB2.5, respectively.

Application of chitosan film as a binding phase in the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) for measurement of metal ions in aqueous solution

Diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) allows in situ determination of labile metal in water, soils, and sediments. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of a new proposal of DGT to measure Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in aqueous solution using chitosan films as binding agent. These films were prepared and characterized (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, and elemental analysis). The maximum adsorption rates onto chitosan films at initial concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg L^-1 for Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were 97%, 98% and 60%, 62%, respectively. Effects of main DGT parameters were evaluated and the results obtained suggest that the pH between 4.0 and 6.0 and ionic strength from 0.0008 to 0.1 mol L^-1 presented the best ranges for the application of DGT-Chitosan. The results suggest that chitosan films prepared in this work can be an effective binding agent for DGT technique in aqueous solution. Graphical abstract.