Instrumental Multi-Element Chemical Analysis

The analysis of materials containing several elements used to be a difficult problem for analytical chemists, so a well established sequence of wet chemical qualitative tests were performed to ensure each element was detected. Quantitative tests could then be carried out on the sample, according to the range of elements present. Most analytical chemists were very familiar with these techniques, having been taugth them from a very early stage in their education and careers. The analytical chemist can now call on a range of specialist instrumental techniques which can detect the presence of many elements, often simultaneously, and often quantitatively, providing rapid results on samples which, in the past, could take days. The drawback is that the instruments tend to be expensive, suited to particular sample types or matrices and complex in both setting up and in the interpretation of results. Furthermore the general analytical chemist may have access and familiarity with only one or two methods.
Written by an international team of contributors, each experts in their particular fields, this book familiarizes analytical chemists with the range of elemental analysis techniquers, to enable them to specify the most appropriate test for any given sample. In addition, it contains important chapters on sample preparation and quality control, essential elements in obtaining accurate and reliable analytical results.
As such, this book will be essential reading for all analytical chemists. The techniques of elemental analysis are important in many other disciplines, so the book will be of particular interest to those commissioning a wide range of analytical measurements, such as chemists, geologists, environmental scientists and biologists. The breadth and depth of coverage will also make the book very useful for advanced students.

Inhalt
1 Preparation of samples.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Dissolution of geological and environmental inorganic samples.- 1.3 Dissolution of biological (organic) material.- 1.4 Contamination from reagents and equipment.- References.- 2 Separation and preconcentration of trace inorganic elements.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Precipitation.- 2.3 Separation and preconcentration of trace elements by columns (ion exchange and sorption).- 2.4 Preconcentration of trace elements by solvent extraction.- 2.5 Preconcentration by formation of volatile compounds.- 2.6 Electrochemical preconcentration.- References.- 3 Quality assurance, control and assessment.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Quality assessment.- 3.3 Statistical methods.- 3.4 Significance tests.- 3.5 Errors in instrumental analysiscalibration lines.- References.- 4 Activation analysis.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Nuclear structure.- 4.3 Nuclear reactions.- 4.4 Decay rates.- 4.5 Irradiation sources.- 4.6 Detection and measurement of radiation.- 4.7 Activation analysis techniques.- 4.8 Special activation analysis methods.- 4.9 Exercises and solutions.- References.- 5 Inductively coupled plasma optical emission and mass speetrometry.- 5.1 Inductively coupled plasma as an analytical source.- 5.2 Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.- 5.3 Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.- 5.4 Sample introduction.- References.- 6 Electroanalytical methods.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Fundamentals.- 6.3 Potentiometry.- 6.4 Conductometry.- 6.5 Electrogravimetry and coulometry.- 6.6 Voltammetry and amperometry.- References.- 7 Atomic absorption spectrometry.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Theory.- 7.3 Major components and instrument types.- 7.4 Atomization.- 7.5 Hydride generation.- 7.6 Interferences.- 7.7 Instrumental background corrections.-7.8 Modifiers, standards and chemicals.- 7.9 Sample preparation and automation.- References.- 8 X-ray fluorescence analysis.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Wavelength- and energy-dispersive XRF.- 8.3 X-ray tubes and radioisotope sources.- 8.4 Methods of quantitative analysis.- 8.5 Scattered radiation.- 8.6 Electron probe micro-analysis.- 8.7 Other XRF techniques.- 8.8 Examples.- 8.9 Appendix.- References.- 9 Analysis of ions using high-performance liquid chromatography.- 9.1 What is ion chromatography?.- 9.2 Fundamentals of the Chromatographic process.- 9.3 Principles of the separation.- 9.4 Types of stationary phases.- 9.5 Properties of mobile phases.- 9.6 Ion suppression in ion chromatography.- 9.7 Detection in ion chromatography.- 9.8 Applicationssummary.- References.- 10 Scattering methods.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Theoretical considerations.- 10.3 The experimental arrangement.- 10.4 Spectrum analysis.- 10.5 Numerical methods.- 10.6 Applications to elemental analysis.- References.- 11 Elemental analysis of surfaces.- 11.1 Introduction: overview of surface phenomena and major techniques.- 11.2 Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.- 11.3 Secondary-ion mass spectrometry.- 11.4 Comparative evaluation of the performance of the three techniques.- 11.5 Summary.- References.