Abstract
Several protocols using different treatments (various mixtures of acids at different temperatures for mineralisation) or using several analysis instrumentations were tested with the aim to define the method allowing the analysis of some groups of elements. This study proposes a protocol of sample treatment and analysis permitting in a single batch the determination of 16 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn) with different chemical features such as volatile or refractory trace elements. This method is specifically adapted to chemical matrices found in unpolluted to moderately polluted atmospheric aerosol samples. Aerosol samples were digested using a mixture aqua regia/hydrofluoric acid at 130°C during 2h, and were then analysed with specifically tuned inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry.•Reduction of costs: use of hot block, use of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), easiness, reliability and adaptability to routine analysis•Digestion of up to 54 samples at the same time in 2h and low amount of material required, only 10mg is necessary.•Better accordance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements (reduced use of acids, in particular HF, no use of high-pressure Teflon bombs).
Highlights
The analysis of atmospheric aerosol samples collected on filters may sometimes be a difficult challenge, owing to the combined effects of chemically resistant matrices potentially present in the atmospheric aerosol, low quantities of collected material and trace/ultra-trace elemental concentrations encountered
Owing to the relative scarcity of atmospheric aerosol Standard Reference Material (SRM) samples, NIST SRM samples present a wide spectrum of certified metals, and are representative of the type of aerosol usually encountered in non-urban but non-remote coastal regions
Its large capacity enables to digest up to 54 samples simultaneously, and it is made of corrosion-resistant graphite and Kydex1 to prevent metallic contamination. It is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and recommended to achieve EPA methods 3005, 3010, 3050A and 3050B, 200.2 and 200
Summary
Aurélie Dufoura,b,*, Christophe Migona,b a Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR 7093, LOV, Observatoire [6_TD$IF]Océanologique, F06230, Villefranche [7_TD$IF]sur mer, France b CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Observatoire [6_TD$IF]Océanologique, F06230, Villefranche [8_TD$IF]sur mer, France. This study proposes a protocol of sample treatment and analysis permitting in a single batch the determination of 16 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn) with different chemical features such as volatile or refractory trace elements. This method is adapted to chemical matrices found in unpolluted to moderately polluted atmospheric aerosol samples. Aerosol samples were digested using a mixture aqua regia/hydrofluoric acid at 130 C during 2 h, and were analysed with tuned inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. ARTICLE INFO Method name: Determination of trace elements in the atmospheric aerosol Keywords: Mineralisation protocol, Atmospheric aerosol, Trace metals, Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry Article history: Received 28 February 2017; Accepted 22 May 2017; Available online 13 June 2017
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