Determination of Germanium and Tin and Inorganic Tin Species by Hydride Generation in Situ Trapping Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The analytical performances of a coupled hydride generation, integrated atom trap (HG-IAT) atomizer flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) system were evaluated for determination of Ge and Sn and inorganic tin species in environmental samples. Germanium and tin hydrides were atomized in air-acetylene flame-heated IAT. A new design of HG-IAT-FAAS hyphenated technique that would exceed the operational capabilities of existing arrangements (a water-cooled single silica tube, double-slotted quartz tube) permitting construction of an ointegrated trapo was investigated. For the estimation of Sn(II) and Sn(IV) concentrations in samples, the difference between the analytical sensitivities of the absorbance singnals obtained for tin hydride without and with previous treatment of samples with L-cysteine could be used. The concentration of Sn(IV) was calculated by the difference between total Sn(tot) and Sn(II). An improvement in limit of detection was achieved compared with that obtained using any of the aforementioned atom trapping techniques separately. The concentration limits of detection were 25 and 8ngmL-1 for Ge and Sn, respectively. For a 2min in situ preconcentration time, sensitivity enhancement, compared to FAAS, were 10 and 14 folds for Ge and Sn, respectively, using hydride generation atom trapping technique. The sensitivity can be further improved by increasing the collection time. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) are of the order of 5-10% for this hyphenated technique. The designs studied include slotted tube, single silica tube, and integrated atom trap water-cooled atom traps. The accuracy of this method was tested by analyses of BCS-CRM No.346 (Alloy), GBW 07302 (Stream Sediment), PACS-1 (Marine Sediment), NBS SRM 1633a (Coal Fly Ash), and NIST SRM 1643e (Trace Element in Water) certified reference materials. Agreement between analytical results and certified values for the test elements Ge and Sn (in the range of 1.7-91.0 mu gg-1) were in agreement with recommended values. The measured Ge and Sn contents in five referenced materials were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values. The hyphenated technique was applied for germanium and tin determination in coal fly ash, soil, sediment, garlic, sewage, and river water.