Atomization of Bismuthane in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge: A Mechanistic Study

Atomization of As and Se volatile species in a dielectric barrier discharge atomizer after hydride generation: Fate of analyte studied by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Atomization of hydrides and their methylated analogues in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma atomizer was investigated. Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) was chosen as a detector being capable of selective detection of non-atomized original volatile species allowing thus direct quantification of atomization efficiency. Selenium hydride (SeH₂) and three volatile arsenic species, namely arsenic hydride (AsH₃), monomethylarsane (CH₃AsH₂) and dimethylarsane ((CH₃)₂AsH), were selected as model analytes. The mechanistic study performed contributes to understanding of the atomization processes in atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The presented results are compatible with a complete atomization of arsenic hydride as well as its methylated analogues and with atomization efficiency of SeH₂ below 80%. Using AsH₃ as a model analyte and a combination of AAS and SIFT-MS detectors has revealed that the hydride is not atomized, but decomposed in the DBD atomizer in absence of hydrogen fraction in the carrier gas. Apart from investigation of analyte atomization, the SIFT-MS detector is capable of quantitative determination of water vapor content being either transported to, or produced in the atomizer. This information is crucial especially in the case of the low-power/temperature DBD atomizer since its performance is sensitive to the amount of water vapor introduced into the plasma.

Flow injection hydride generation and on-line W-coil trapping for electrothermal vaporization dielectric barrier discharge atomic emission spectrometric determination of trace cadmium

A fast, low-cost and sensitive method for the determination of trace cadmium was developed by using a miniaturized dielectric barrier discharge microplasma atomic emission spectrometer coupled with a tungsten coil (W-coil) for on-line hydride generation trapping-electrothermal vaporization. Total sample throughput can be greatly improved through the adoption of a horizontally fixed W-coil and the flow injection mode. In addition, the horizontally fixed W-coil and an inserted quartz capillary for on-line trapping contributed to stable and good signal even at a high gas flow rate when volatile cadmium species were trapped, and less sample-consuming and time-saving can be realized in this work. Compared to direct injection, the sensitivity and the LOD were improved by 29- and 38-fold, respectively. The proposed method provides a promising approach to develop a miniaturized instrumentation for highly sensitive detection of trace elements.

A mass spectrometric study of hydride generated arsenic species identified by direct analysis in real time (DART) following cryotrapping

Hydride generation (HG) coupled to cryotrapping was employed to introduce, separately and with high selectivity, four gaseous arsanes into a direct analysis in real time source for high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HR-MS). The arsanes, i.e., arsane (AsH₃), methylarsane (CH₃AsH₂), dimethylarsane ((CH₃)₂AsH), and trimethylarsane ((CH₃)₃As), were formed under HG conditions that were close to those typically used for analytical purposes. Arsenic containing ion species formed during ambient ionization in the DART were examined both in the positive and negative ion modes. It was clearly demonstrated that numerous arsenic ion species originated in the DART source that did not accurately reflect their origin. Pronounced oxidation, hydride abstraction, methyl group(s) loss, and formation of oligomer ions complicate the identification of the original species in both modes of detection, leading to potential misinterpretation. Suitability of the use of the DART source for identification of arsenic species in multiphase reaction systems comprising HG is discussed.

Behavior of selenium hydride in heated quartz tube and dielectric barrier discharge atomizers

Atomization of SeH₂ in an externally heated multiple microflame quartz tube atomizer (MMQTA) as well as planar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atomizer was investigated using a variety of probes. Deposits of Se on inner surfaces of the atomizers were quantified and their distribution visualized by autoradiography with ⁷⁵Se radiotracer. The gas phase fraction of Se transported beyond the confines of the atomizers was also determined. In the MMQTA, a 15% mass fraction of Se was deposited in a narrow zone at both colder ends of the optical arm (100-400 °C). By contrast, a 25-40% mass fraction of Se was deposited homogeneously along the entire length of the optical arm of the DBD, depending on detection technique employed. The fraction of Se transported outside the MMQTA approached 90%, whereas it was 50-70% in the DBD. The presence of H₂ was essential for atomization of selenium hydride in both atomizers. The gaseous effluent arising from the hydride generator as well as the atomizers was investigated by direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled to an Orbitrap-mass spectrometer, enabling identification of major gas phase species of Se.

Diethyldithiocarbamate enhanced chemical generation of volatile palladium species, their characterization by AAS, ICP-MS, TEM and DART-MS and proposed mechanism of action

Comprehensive investigation of chemical generation of volatile species (VSG) of palladium for detection by analytical atomic and mass spectrometry and, specifically, the mechanistic aspects of their formation and tentative identification are presented. VSG was achieved in a flow injection mode using a generator that permitted rapid mixing of acidified sample with NaBH₄ reductant. Atomization in a diffusion flame with detection by atomic absorption spectrometry was exclusively used for optimization of generation conditions while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was utilized to investigate overall system efficiency and analytical metrics of the VSG system for potential ultratrace analysis. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) served as a crucial reaction modifier, enhancing overall system efficiency 9-fold. Combinations of modifiers, Triton X-100 and Antifoam B surfactants provided a synergistic effect to yield a further 2-fold enhancement of VSG. The overall system efficiency was in the range 16-22%, with higher efficiencies correlating with higher Pd concentrations. The contribution of co-generated aerosol to the overall system efficiency, determined by means of concurrent measurement of added Cs, was negligible - less than 0.1%. The nature of the volatile species was investigated using several approaches, but principally by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after their collection on a grid, and by direct analysis in real time (DART) using high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry. These experiments suggest a parallel but dual-route mechanism of VSG of Pd, one attributed to generation of a volatile DDTC chelate of Pd and a second to nanoparticle formation.