Marine Biological Materials Research Articles

Determination of trace metals in marine biological reference materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the analysis of two marine biological reference materials (dogfish liver tissue (DOLT-1) and dogfish muscle tissue (DORM-1)). The materials were put into solution by digestion in a nitric acid/hydrogen peroxide mixture. Thirteen elements (Na, Mg, Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were then determined. Accurate results were obtained by standard additions or isotope dilution techniques for all of these elements in DORM-1 and for all but Cr in DOLT-1.

Use of external calibration for the determination of trace metals in biological materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the analysis of two marine biological materials (cod liver tissue and shellfish tissue). A rapid dissolution of the materials was achieved by digestion in pressurised vessels in a microwave oven. Twelve elements (Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sn, Hg and Pb) were then determined. It was possible to obtain accurate results by external calibration (i.e., the use of standard solutions), even at sub-µg g–1 levels. Internal standardisation using 40Ar40Ar was carried out when required to correct for instrumental drift. The isotope dilution technique generally gave more accurate and precise results, especially at the lower concentration levels.

Investigation of a Method for Routine use of General-Purpose Teflon Bombs for the Digestion of Samples for Trace Metal Analysis

Abstract The merits of teflon bomb and open system digestion of marine biological material and sediments have been investigated. Marine tissue and sediments with known metal concentration were digested at different temperatures (90°C, 100°C and 110°C) and different acids (HCI, H3PO4, aqua regia and HNO3). It was found that aqua regia digestion was more suitable for carbon furnace metal analysis. Nitric acid is recommended for flame metal analysis. The final conclusion was that teflon bomb digestion is preferred over open system digestion with samples up to a maximum mass of 0.1 g dry weight at a temperature of 110°C.

Decomposition of marine biological materials for the determination of selenium by fluorescence spectrometry

The use of wet and dry ashing procedures to decompose marine biological tissues and to degrade organoselenium compounds to inorganic selenium for analysis by fluorescence spectroscopy were investigated. Wet ashing with nitric and perchloric (5:2 v v ) or nitric-sulfuric-perchloric (5:2:0.5 v v ) acid mixtures released the largest percentage of selenium from fish tissue and quantitatively degraded organoselenium compounds to inorganic selenium. The selenium concentrations found when standard reference materials were ashed with these mixtures were in agreement with the certified values.

Determination of total tin and tributyltin in marine biological materials by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Total tin and tributyltin in marine biological tissue are determined at the sub-μg g −1 level by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Total tin is extracted by digestion with nitric acid, and tributyltin is extracted by n-hexane after treatment with hydrochloric acid. A matrix modifier (ammonium dihydrogenphosphate), and a stabilized-temperature platform furnace are used to overcome matrix effects. Zeeman background correction is used. Results of analyses of oyster ( Crassostrea gigas), salmon ( Salmo salar) and a reference material (Bowen's kale) are presented. The detection limit for both methods is ca. 30 ng of tin with a relative standard deviation ( n = 6) of 7.8% for a sample containing 200 ng of tin.

New marine biological reference materials for trace metals

A list of reference materials and certified reference materials (CRM's) useful to the marine analytical chemist for validation of trace element determinations is given. The preparation and certification for the trace element content of two new marine biological reference materials, dogfish flesh (DORM-1) and dogfish liver (DOLT-1), is described.

Ferromanganese Nodules from Lake Ontario (Bay of Quinte): Minor Element Geochemistry

Spark source mass spectroscopy was used to analyze 61 elements in ten ferromanganese nodules found near Glenora in the Bay of Quinte at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. Most minor elements, including As, Pb, and Hg, have concentrations between 1–100 μg g −1. F, S, Co, Zn, and La have concentrations in 100 μg g −1 range. Ba and Sr are present at levels of 1% and 0.1% respectively. Compared to similar measurements on nodules found in the Great Lakes and in other parts of the globe, values reported here are generally lower. Compared to their marine equivalents, lake nodules appear to be inferior scavengers of minor elements. Examination of all available data corroborates the postulate that marine biological material is an important source of minor elements found in oceanic nodules.

Determination of radioactive and stable cobalt in marine biological materials (author's transl)

Studies were made to develop the method for rapid determination of radioactive and stable cobalt in a single specimen of marine biological materials. The sample was dried, ashed, and dissolved in acid. The cobalt was extracted with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol benzene and determined by absorptiometry on the benzene phase. Then, the organic solution was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was treated with nitric-perchloric acid mixture to decompose any organic matter, and taken up with hydrochloric acid. The cobolt was extracted from the solution with TIO A-toluene, and the radioactive cobalt was determined by liquid scintillation counting on the toluene phase. Examinations were made on the chemical yield and on the decontamination factor of the fission product nuclides. Analysis were made on the marine biological samples of Urazoko Bay, Fukui prefecture. Agreement of the radioactive cobalt data between that by the present method and that by Ge(Li) gamma ray spectometry was good. Also, the stable cobalt value by the present method agreed well with that by neutron activation analysis method.

A comparison of various methods for determination of cobalt in marine biological materials

The reliability for determination of cobalt in biological samples was studied by using various analytical methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), absorption photometry(AP), and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The marine samples used were various kinds of shellfish which were dried at 105°C and then ashed at 500°C in an electric furnace. After the ashes were decomposed with HF, HNO3 and fuming HNO3, followed by evaporation to dryness, the residues were dissolved in dilute HCl and were analysed by AAS and AP. In the AAS method the absorbance was directly measured at 240.7 nm using air-C2H2 flame. In the AP method cobalt was first extracted into xylene with 1-nitroso-2-naphtol reagent, and then the absorbance was measured at 410 nm. In the INAA method, the ash sample and the reference standard were irradiated for 24 h at a thermal neutron flux of 5×1011 n cm-2 s-1 in the TRIGA II reactor at Rikkyo University, and after cooling for 15 days the 1332 keV gamma ray was measured by a Ge(Li) detector coupled with a multichannel pulse height analyser. The analytical results were (in μg Co/g wet tissue) : 0.49 (AAS). 0.22 (AP) and 0.21 (INAA) in Tapes philippinarum; 0.28 (AAS), 0.081 (AP) and 0.077 (INAA) in Mytilus edulis; 1.2 (AAS), 1.1 (AP), and 0.95 (INAA) in Tridacna squamosa, respectively. Values obtained by AP and INAA agreed well each other, whereas those obtained by AAS were higher than the corresponding values obtained by the former two methods. The origine of the higher values was found to be the interference by iron and calcium in the samples. The reliability of AP and INAA were confirmed by the analysis of Bovine Liver (NBS standard reference material) and standard rock samples AGV-1 and JG-1.

Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Selenium in Biological Materials, Using 4-Bromo- and 4-Chloro-1,2-Diaminobenzene as Derivatizing Reagents

A method is described for the gas-liquid chromatographic determination of traces of selenium in marine biological materials. The method is based on the reaction of Se(IV) with bromo- and chloro-substituted 1,2-diaminobenzenes. The benzoselenadiazoles so formed are sensitive to electron capture detection. The sample is digested in a nitric-perchloric acid mixture and selenium is reduced to the IV oxidation state. Different aliquots of the digest solution are reacted with either 4-bromo- or 4-chloro-1,2-diaminobenzene to quantitatively form the corresponding 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole. Recovery of added selenite to a fish meal sample was 95% for the bromo derivative and 101% for the chloro derivative. Different portions of a well mixed fish meal sample were analyzed in independent laboratories by the fluorometric method and by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (hydride generation). The following mean values (microgram/g) were found: present method 1.89, fluorometric method 1.91, atomic absorption method 2.1. The lower limit of detection for the method described was 13 ng, using the bromo derivative, and 27 ng, using the chloro derivative.