Optical Emission Spectrometer Research Articles

The Influence of Increasing Argon Gas Flow Rate on Plasma Parameters and their Diagnostics by Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES)

In this research, the plasma parameters were determined each of electron temperature (Te), electron density (ne), plasma frequency (fp), Debye length (λD). The plasma jet operates with argon gas at atmospheric pressure. It is equipped with an alternating AC high voltage power supply of 12 kilovolts and a frequency of 20 kilohertz. Plasma parameters were calculated from the emission spectrum using an optical emission spectrometer (OES) which captured the spectrum resulting from the plasma at various flow rates of argon gas from 0.5 to 5 L/min. Several peaks of argon gas (ArI) and nitrogen gas (N2) were appeared, where the results showed that the highest peak of argon gas was at 763.51 nm for the fifth flow of argon gas. The results indicated the electron temperature (Te) decrease with increased flow rate and ranged (1.296–0.645) ev, while the electron density (ne) increased with flow rate and ranged were (4.054-5.068x1017) cm-3, respectively. In contrast an increase in the intensity of spectral lines was observed.

Influence of drying methods on heavy metal composition and microbial load of plantain chips

Mature unripe plantain is usually processed into chips using the traditional sun-drying method without considering consumer safety. Thus, there is a need to assess the influence of solar tent and open sun drying on the heavy metal composition and microbial load of plantain chips. Thirty samples of dried plantain chips were collected randomly from 10 processing centers in Akure South and Idanre Local Government Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. In addition, four popularly consumed plantain varieties (agbagba, bobby tannap, mbi egome, and pita 23) were processed to chips and dried using open sun and solar tent drying. The samples were analyzed for heavy metal compositions using an Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and microbial loads using the serial dilution method. The heavy metal content of the dried plantain chips was in the range of 0.01–0.08 mg/kg for Cd, 0.01–0.07 mg/kg for Co, and 0.05–0.50 mg/kg for Pb. Seven fungi (Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus tamarii, Fusarium verticillioides, and Monilla spp.) of health importance were isolated. The drying methods had a significant effect on the Cd (p < 0.01), Co (p < 0.001), and Pb (p < 0.01) contents of the plantain chips, but with no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the bacterial, fungi, and total coliform counts. Since the heavy metal content and microbial loads were higher in the surveyed and open sun-dried samples, the solar tent-dryer may be more reliable in producing less contaminated plantain chips than the open sun drying methods.

Morphological characterization, hazardous metal contamination, source identification, and health risk assessment of the fine road dust from Dachang mining area, China.

Dachang mining area in China is known as "paradise for mineralogists" due to its most reserves of Sn, Sb, Pb, and Zn non-ferrous metal resources; thus, its evaluation for heavy metal assessment and consequent health risk is unavoidable. Sixty road dust samples were collected from study area to explore pollution level, ecological, and health risks from heavy metals and were analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer and atomic fluorescence spectrometer. The results showed that average concentration of all the heavy metals in road dust in both mining and residential areas were remarkable higher than its corresponding background values, the former being more severe, except for Cr and Co. The morphological investigation showed that most of the particles were much less than 100μm illustrating fine part of the road dust samples. Based on integrated pollution indices, Cd, Sb, As, Zn, and Pb were extremely contaminated and exceeded hundred times of the maximum risk value. The health risk assessment revealed substantially higher carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to children and adult. Highest non-carcinogenic risk resulted from arsenic in mining and residential area with HQing of 644.56 and 267.94 respectively (standard HQ ≥ 1) while carcinogenic risk to children (1.94E + 00) which greatly exceeded from the threshold value of (1.0E-4). Sb, Cd, and Pb also posed carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk in road dust which is caused by excessive mining activities and heavy vehicle movement in the study area.

Study of the effects of an ionic stabilizer on the permeability of gangue bonding material

Gangue has been widely used in road engineering, but its relatively poor permeability restricts its further application in roads in cold areas. The effects of the ionic stabilizer (ICS) mixing amount on the adsorbed water characteristics, pore structure, morphology characteristics, surface element changes and cation exchange capacity of coal gangue were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), the barium chloride buffer solution method and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), and the mechanism of ICS action was investigated. In addition, the permeability properties, shear strength and fractal characteristics of the pore structure of ICS-stabilized gangue bonding material were investigated. The results show that the strong cations and alkyl sulfonate radicals ionized in ICS aqueous solution will exchange and bind the cations on the surface of gangue mineral particles, weaken the electrostatic force of colloids and hydrophilicity of gangue, and then reduce the content of surface bound water. The pore size of gangue is smaller, the porosity is reduced, and the complexity of the pore structure is decreased after stabilization under the same external force, resulting in a smaller permeability coefficient and fractal dimension (Ds) values and greater cohesion. In addition, there is a linear relationship between Ds and the permeability coefficient, so Ds can be used as a new parameter to evaluate the permeability performance of coal gangue binding materials.

Experimental Investigation on Al 6061 and Al 2024 Aluminium alloys for achieving Surface Roughness using CNC Vertical Face Milling Process

Abstract: The influence of process factors and the integrity of the surface roughness are investigated experimentally in the current study on the metals Al6061 and Al2024. In order to conduct vertical cutting tests for both base alloys, a mixed level L9 orthogonal array is used. An optical emission spectrometer is used to analyse the chemical composition. SEM is used to analyse the microstructure of the materials used to discover tiny inertinitic precipitates in an aluminum matrix using ANOVA Table value. Mild steel was the tool employed, and surface topography and 2D roughness profile data were used to assess the surface integrity of cut surfaces. The experimental trials with various degrees of process parameters, such as Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. In determining surface roughness, speed, feed, and depth of cut are determined to be the most important variables.

Trace Element Status and Postoperative Morbidity After On-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Trace elements are essential micronutrients that take part in most antioxidant reactions in the body. In this study, we evaluated the levels of copper, chromium, manganese, selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and silicon in adult patients who undergone isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass with the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation, transient renal injury, transient liver injury, and rate of wound infection; 51 adult patients (41 men, 10 women) underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean age was 61,9 ± 8,0years (range 45-82years). Blood samples were collected preoperatively, postoperative first hour, postoperative first day, and fifth postoperative day for element analysis. Serum levels were determined by an Inductive Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICAP 6000). Serum copper, zinc, and selenium values, typically known as strong antioxidant elements in the body, decreased significantly during the first hour and first day of postoperative period compared to the preoperative period (p < 0.05). Also, postoperative atrial fibrillation, transient renal injury, transient liver injury, and rate of wound infection were observed to increase with the decrease in levels of trace elements (p < 0.05). The levels of these elements were observed to return to normal levels during the fifth postoperative day. The levels of trace elements decrease significantly after on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Our study results suggest that this could be one of the predisposing factors for increased postoperative atrial fibrillation, transient kidney injury, transient renal injury, and increased rate of wound infections for patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

A microplasma optical emission spectrometry pen for point-of-care diagnosis of child blood lead

Blood lead levels (BLL) of children have attracted considerable attention due to their putative impact on intelligence decline. However, most methods used for the determination of blood lead typically require expensive, bulky, high power and gas consuming instrumentation, limiting their application for a point-of-care diagnosis. Herein we report the development and testing of a portable ballpoint discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometer (BD-OES pen) device having the potential to fill this needed measurement capability. The BD-OES pen utilizes a compact ballpoint-pen format integrating point-discharge microplasma, which permits the determination of child BLL requiring no more than 100 μL blood while providing high specificity, sensitivity and satisfactory limit of detection (0.73 μg L−1). The handheld BD-OES pen is successfully used to diagnose BLL of 16 asymptomatic children on-site, two of whom had excessive the normal BLL. The pen may aid the on-site and rapid diagnosis of childhood BLL, particularly in low-income areas.

Essential and non-essential metals in three lowland rivers of temperate South America (Argentina): Distribution and accumulation

BackgroundGeographic distribution of essential metals on earth is largely uneven. Therefore, regional specific approaches to assess metal contents in freshwater ecosystems are mandatory. Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn and Zn concentrations were measured in water, sediments and fish tocharacterize the partitioning of these essential and non-essential metals in three river ecosystems of the Pampean Plain==. MethodsWater, sediment and eight fish species were collected at three rivers from the Pampean Plain. After sample-specific pretreatments, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations in water, sediment and muscle were determined in triplicate by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Contamination (Hakanson´s index) and bioconcentration factors were calculated to assess the degree of contamination and the relationship between the matrices, while the target hazard quotient was estimated to explore the risk to human health from fish consumption. ResultsWater metal concentration was below detection limit in all sampled rivers. Sediments were mostly enriched by Mn (186–474 mg kg−1) followed by Zn (36.8–40.3 mg kg−1), whereas in fish, the situation was the opposite, suggesting different biogeochemical pathways and uneven bioaccumulation of these elements. The largest concentrations for all explored metals were invariably recorded in fish from the Sauce Grande River, although only Cd, Cu and Ni in sediments were highest at this site. Indeed, the bioconcentration factor showed that Cd and Zn are actively accumulated by almost all species in all sampled rivers. The Targeted Hazard Quotient based on the muscle metal concentration tissue of the edible fish species (Odontesthes bonariensis) was less than 1. ConclusionNone metal seemed to pose a significant risk for humans. In some sites biota-sediment concentration factors of Cd and Zn and muscle Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn and Pb levels were highest in the silurid Pimelodella laticeps, suggesting that it may be used as a sentinel species for biomonitoring programs in Neotropical fish assemblages.

Synthesis and Electron-Beam Evaporation of Gadolinium-Doped Ceria Thin Films

Gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) nanopowders, prepared using the co-precipitation synthesis method, were applied as a starting material to form ceria-based thin films using the electron-beam technique. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM )analysis of the pressed ceramic pellets’ cross-sectional views showed a dense structure with no visible defects, pores, or cracks. The AC impedance spectroscopy showed an increase in the total ionic conductivity of the ceramic pellets with an increase in the concentration of Gd2O3 in GDC. The highest total ionic conductivity was obtained for Gd0.1Ce0.9O2-δ (σtotal is 11 × 10−3 S∙cm−1 at 600 °C), with activation energies of 0.85 and 0.67 eV in both the low- and high-temperature ranges, respectively. The results of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) measurements revealed that the stoichiometry for the evaporated thin films differs, on average, by ~28% compared to the target material. The heat-treatment of the GDC thin films at 600 °C, 700 °C, 800 °C, and 900 °C for 1 h in the air had a minor effect on the surface roughness and the morphology. The results of Raman spectroscopy confirmed the improvement of the crystallinity for the corresponding thin films. The optimum heat-treating temperature for thin films does not exceed 800 °C.

Effect of modified CeO2 on the performance of PdCu/Ce1-xTixO2 catalyst for methanol purification.

In this paper, we prepared a series of Ce1-xTixO2 (x = 0-0.20) nanorods by hydrothermal method, which were used to construct the PdCu/Ce1-xTixO2 catalysts. The Ce1-xTixO2 and PdCu/Ce1-xTixO2 samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), etc. Catalytic activity, stability, and repeatability of the catalysts for methanol oxidation were investigated. The results show that doping a proper amount of titanium could strengthen the interaction between Ce1-xTixO2 support and PdCu nanoalloy, thus increasing the oxygen vacancy concentration and promoting Pd species with a higher oxidation state. These modified properties are beneficial for the deep oxidation of methanol. The light-off temperature (T50) and full-conversion temperature (T90) of methanol over the PdCu/CeO2 catalyst are 108°C and 159°C, respectively. The greatest activity improvement is found for PdCu/Ce0.9Ti0.1O2, which shows the lowest T50 of 88°C and T90 of 138°C. Furthermore, neither PdCu/CeO2 nor the modified PdCu/CeO2 catalyst produces by-products and exhibit excellent stability and repeatability throughout the whole test period. This study provides a reference for in-depth understanding and designing of efficient and stable CeO2-based oxidation catalysts.

Study of Some Plasma Characteristics in Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) System

In this present paper, an experimental study of some plasma characteristics in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system using several variables, such as different frequencies and using two different electrodes metals(aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu)), is represented. The discharge plasma was produced by an AC power supply source of 6 and 7 kHz frequencies for the nitrogen gas spectrum and for two different electrodes metals(Al and Cu). Optical emission spectrometer was used to study plasma properties (such as electron temperature ( ), electron number density ( ), Debye length ( ), and plasma frequency ( )). In addition, images were analysed for the plasma emission intensity at atmospheric air pressure.

Determination of Electrons Temperature and Density For Ag, Zn, and Cu metals using Plasma jet System at atmospheric pressure

Under atmospheric pressure, an argon plasma stream was sustained and its plasma characteristics were examined. The emission spectra of plasma created in a plasma jet system using argon gas were observed for three metals (Ag, Zn, and Cu) for the anode and varied flow rates ranging from 1–4 L/min. at constant voltage, and normal atmospheric pressure. The spectral lines of excited Ar, Ag, Zn, and Cu species were identified at a wavelength of (650–900) nm .The Debye length, sphere, and temperature of an electron are all measured. Optical emission spectrometer (OES) equipment was used to capture the spectrum produced by the plasma at various argon gas flow rates.The temperature and density of the electron (Te) and (ne) ranges for Ar-gas, Ag, Zn, and Cu-anode increased as the stream pace of argon gas to the plasma made by the release current (D.C.) expanded.(1.241- 1.473)eV and (1.93 x1018–6.38 x1018 ) cm-3 , (1.187– 1.245) eV and (4.32 x1016–6.23 x1016 ) cm-3 , (1.374 -1.631)eV and (4.01 x1018 – 12.1 x1018 ) cm-3 respectively . The intensity of spectral lines, on the other hand, increased.

Feasibility of two-dimensional die-level plasma process monitoring using spatially resolvable optical emission spectrometers

We demonstrated the feasibility of die-level process monitoring using spatially resolvable optical emission spectrometers (SROESs) in a low-pressure plasma reactor. The spatially resolved Ar emission line intensities and their intensity ratios were obtained from uniformly generated and intentionally perturbed plasma by inserting conductors of known sizes at known locations. The sheath and perturbed plasma distributions were identified from the Ar emission line intensity and their intensity ratio in the lateral direction to the SROES installment orientation. However, the resolution in the axial direction was insufficient to identify the sheath and perturbed the plasma distribution. We propose the superimposition of measured plasma emission intensities from two perpendicularly aligned SROESs for die-level process monitoring. The insufficient axial resolution can be compensated for by the lateral resolution of another SROES, and die-level process monitoring using SROES can thus be realized.

Chemical Characterization in the Production Chain of Permanent Magnets by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) – Precise Quantification of Nd, Pr, Fe and B in Super-Magnets Samples

Super-magnets, materials whose strong magnetic activity is an attractive differential for the high-tech industry, may have their magnetic performance affected by small variations in their chemical composition. For example, the neodymium and praseodymium content can change the physicochemical properties of the permanent magnets. Aiming at a strict chemical quality control, this work developed an analytical method to quantify the major elements in the materials involved in the production process of didymium (the mixture of neodymium and praseodymium) super-magnets. The simultaneous determination of Nd (401.225 nm), Pr (414.311 nm), Fe (259.837 nm) and B (249.678 nm) in three different sample types (didymium oxide, metallic didymium and (Nd,Pr)-Fe-B alloy) was performed by sample dissolution in acidic media, followed by instrumental measurements using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. Linear calibration curves were obtained with high coefficient of determination (0.9983 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.9999) and with appropriate limits for determining these elements at the percentage level, reaching detection limits less than 0.07 cg g-1. The precision of the method was improved by weighing of the solutions during all the dilution steps and was evaluated by the coefficient of variation associated to instrumental precision (0.3 – 0.7%), method intermediate precision (1.9 – 3.1%) and also by the typical mass fraction provided as uncertainty (0.04 – 0.20 cg g-1), reaching the pressing need to distinguish the content of the rare earth elements in less than 1 cg g-1. The accuracy of the method was assessed by spiked and recovery test (96-104% for spikes equal to or greater than 0.50 cg g-1) and also by the use of different analytical methods, involving the participation of other laboratories, obtaining an acceptable degree of agreement (85 – 107%).

Microdischarge in Flame as a Source-in-Source for Boosted Excitation of Optical Emission of Chromium.

A compact tandem excitation source-in-source was designed by arranging a point discharge (PD) ignited in argon/hydrogen (Ar/H2) flame and utilized for boosted excitation for the optical emission of chromium. Through a tungsten coil (W-coil) electrothermal vaporizer (ETV) located right under the tandem source without any interface for sample introduction, a miniaturized optical emission spectrometer was realized. Because the discharge gaseous atmosphere of PD was activated in the flame, the energy consumption of PD for breaking down discharge gas and maintenance of plasma was greatly saved. In addition, the flame could partially atomize or keep the atomized state of analyte atoms through its reducing environment. Therefore, the excitation capability of the tandem source was greatly improved, owing to the synergistic effect of PD microplasma and Ar/H2 flame. In addition, part of the analyte was atomized/excited on the W-coil, and thereby, dry, pure, and activated analyte species were released from the W-coil and swept into the tandem source for atomization/excitation. Through the collective effect of W-coil ETV, Ar/H2 flame, and PD microplasma, analytical sensitivity for Cr was greatly enhanced. Under the optimized conditions, with 10 μL sample solution, a limit of detection of 1.5 μg L-1 and a relative standard deviation of 3.6% (20 μg L-1, n = 5) were achieved. Its accuracy was demonstrated by successful analysis of several certified reference materials. Owing to the advantages including high sensitivity, compactness, and cost effectiveness, it is promising to facilitate the miniaturized spectrometer for more elements and potential field analytical chemistry.

Direct coupling of liquid–liquid extraction with 3D-printed microplasma optical emission spectrometer for speciation analysis of mercury in fish oil

A simple method coupling liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) with 3D printed cold vapor generation point discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometry (CVG-µPD-OES) was constructed for the speciation analysis of mercury in fish oil. Mercury species contained in fish oil (mainly inorganic mercury (IHg) and methylmercury (MeHg)) were efficiently extracted into an aqueous medium containing 1.5% (m/v) L-Cysteine and 1% (m/v) ammonium acetate after a 3 min of vortex oscillation. Subsequently, the aqueous extracted solution was analyzed by CVG-µPD-OES. IHg was reduced to mercury cold vapor (Hg0) by the reaction with 0.02% (m/v) KBH4 in the absence of KMnO4, whereas total mercury (MeHg and IHg) could be converted to Hg0 by CVG after the pre-oxidation of KMnO4. All the generated Hg0 was separated from the condensed liquid phase and analyzed by µPD-OES. Under optimal experimental conditions, limits of detection (LODs) were found to be 0.1 μg L−1 for both MeHg and IHg, with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 11) of better than 4.3%. Two Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and eight fish oils were analyzed to validate the accuracy and applicability with good recoveries (84%−114%). Since the 3D printing technique significantly decreases its instrument manufacturing difficulty and LLE improves its analytical performance, the LLE-CVG-µPD-OES featured portability, simplicity, low energy consumption, and high sensitivity, showing a promising prospect for the rapid and accurate safety assessment of fish oil and its relevant dietary supplements.

Investigation of gas-liquid discharge characteristics in atmospheric air and argon

A discharge in contact with water in atmospheric air and argon (Ar) was presented. The electrical and optical characteristics were experimentally investigated and compared in different voltage ranges. The waveforms of voltage and current revealed this discharge didn't happen symmetrically in each period due to the asymmetric geometry of the reactor. The OH intensity obtained by Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES), discharge power P and transfer charge Q analyzed by the Lissajous method, and rotational temperature Tr and vibrational temperature Tv fitted by LIFBASE software based on OH spectra were bigger in Ar–H2O dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) than in air-H2O at 11 and 12 kV, except only Tv of Ar–H2O DBD was a little bit smaller than that of air-H2O DBD at 12 kV. Tr and Tv indicated these two gas-H2O DBDs were non thermal-equilibrium discharges. This experimental work is helpful in comprehensively understanding the discharge manner of gas-liquid at electrical, physical, and chemical aspects.

Preparation of TiO2-CNT-Ag Ternary Composite Film with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity via Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

In this study, a TiO2-CNT-Ag ternary composite film was successfully synthesized using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method by simultaneously feeding a carbon nanotube (CNT)/Ag suspension and titanium tetraisopropoxide gas. The prepared TiO2-CNT-Ag film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Moreover, the Ag/Ti ratio of the film was confirmed using an inductivity-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. The performance of the TiO2-composite film for the degradation of rhodamine 6G under simulated solar light irradiation was evaluated. The rate constant of the prepared TiO2-CNT-Ag for rhodamine 6G degradation was approximately 1.8 times greater than that of prepared TiO2. This result indicates that the addition of CNT and Ag significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of the prepared films.

New method for recovery of nickel and cadmium from the ”black mass” of spent Ni-Cd batteries by solvent extraction

The paper presents experiments with solid–liquid-liquid extraction of heavy metals from the “black mass” (BM) of waste batteries related to the recycling of nickel and cadmium, as well as cobalt (for several samples) from spent Ni-Cd batteries. The extraction and separation of Ni(II) and Cd(II) from the solid BM with Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and other extractants dissolved in toluene or naphtha (kerosene) have been investigated in detail. It has been shown that the extraction efficiency of DESs, contrary to ionic liquids (ILs), is at the level of 30 wt% Ni(II) and 100 wt% Cd(II) from the BM, without the primary process of leaching with sulphuric acid. Solvent extraction has been proposed with two DESs (choline chloride + lactic acid and choline chloride + malonic acid), with ionic liquids (ILs): trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride [P6,6,6,14][Cl] (Cyphos IL 101) and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium thiocyanate [P6,6,6,14][SCN], and with organophosphorous-based acids (OPBAs) such as bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA). Process factors such as extracting solvents and additives, solvent concentration, holding time, pH and liquid/solid, as well as organic/aqueous (O:A) ratios were studied. For all the systems, the extraction efficiency (E) and the distribution ratio (D) were specified. The metal content in the solid BM was analyzed by the SEM/EDS method and with the use of the UltraWAVE digestion system combined with an atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS and FAES techniques). An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to determine the concentration of metal ions in aqueous solutions and stripped organic solutions.

Metals and metalloids concentrations in three genotypes of pelagic Sargassum from the Atlantic Ocean Basin-scale

Since 2011, the Caribbean Islands have witnessed unprecedented massive stranding of a pelagic brown algal Sargassum spp. inducing damages for coastal ecosystems and economy. By accumulating heavy metals, Sargassum can play a role in contaminant transportation from offshore to the coast. In 2019, three genotypes of Sargassum (S. fluitans III, S. natans I, and VIII) were sampled in seven stations along a 3400 km transect in the Atlantic Ocean. Concentrations of 15 heavy metal(loid)s elements were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Mean metal concentrations were ranked following descending order: As >Fe > Al > Mn > Cd > Zn > Ni > V > Cu > Cr > Hg. The metalloid As was the most abundant contaminant with a maximum value of 115 ppm, previously observed in the Caribbean area (80–150 ppm). At Atlantic Ocean Basin-scale, metallic element concentrations do not present spatial longitudinal gradients. Genotypes S. fluitans III and S. natans (I and VIII), present differents metal(loid)s contamination distinct patterns.