Direct determination of metal concentrations in freshwater algae by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

A direct TXRF method for the determination of metal impurities by applying three different freshwater algae, viz., Chlorella keslerii, Synehococcus sp. and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, was developed. The applicability of the slurry sampling technique was confirmed by comparing the analytical results obtained with those obtained by total digestion of the algae. The concentration data showed an acceptable agreement for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. The calculated accumulation factors for the metals detected were highest for Chlorella keslerii.

Direct analysis of biological samples by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

“…The self-absorption and scattering must be minimized by an adequate sample preparation [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], e.g., microtomes, slurries, dilution, etc. and drying procedure.…”

“…This condition is difficult to attain, especially in biological and organic samples, due to the matrixassociated problems such as the scattering and/or selfabsorption of the impinging radiation. To overcome the difficulties some procedures are discussed in the literature: microwave-assisted wet [10,11] and vapor phase digestion [12], ultrasonic acid extraction [13], microtome sections [14,15], slurries [16,17], simple dilution [18], plasma ashing [19], hydride generation [20] and microwaveassisted drying [21]. Some of these procedures are carried out directly onto the sample reflector surface, partially minimizing sample manipulation and the subsequent possibility of contamination [14,15,19].…”

Total arsenic content of nine species of Antarctic macro algae as determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

“…The usefulness of employing algae to monitor metals and metalloids in waters is based on the fact that these species respond to elements present in solution in the waters studied. It is also recognized that algae communities might provide more complex information on water quality than direct water qualification carried out by means of chemical tests at defined times and locations [9]. The retention of elements by macro algae has been shown [10] to be strong, with only minimal exchange between bound metals and ambient water.…”

A microdigestion procedure directly performed in the autosampler cups for the determination of trace elements in biological samples by GF AAS

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] They can be performed by direct acid addition or vapor phase digestion. [7][8][9][10]12,14,15,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Contamination risks can be minimized if a single vessel is used for the whole procedure.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] They can be performed by direct acid addition or vapor phase digestion. [7][8][9][10]12,14,15,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Contamination risks can be minimized if a single vessel is used for the whole procedure. 6,8,11,15,[19][20][21][22][23][25][26][27][28][29][30] For instance, Sperling has proposed a microdigestion procedure for the determination of Cd in environmental samples.…”