Spectrophotometric and Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy Determination of Gallium in Natural Soils and Soils Polluted by Industry: Relationships between Elements

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine gallium contents in different soils of Poland using a sensitive spectrophotometric method based on the complex of Ga(III) with chrome azurol S and benzyldodecyldimethylammonium bromide and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry technique. The total content of gallium in the soils clearly depends on the soil location and properties and ranged from 41.7 to 437 μg g -1 . The contents of gallium determined in 10% nitric acid and 1 M of magnesium chloride extract ranges respectively from 38.0 to 81.9% and 20-40% of the total content of this element. A strong correlation has been found between gallium and zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper. The high Pearson correlation coefficient values and the proportional relationship between the concentrations of Ga and these metals may make it possible to treat gallium as an indicator of soil contamination with heavy metals.

Comparison of ultrasonic, hotplate and microwave assisted digestion methods for the assessment of metals in agricultural soil: Environmental contamination and human health risk

“…The concentration of Ga in Taiwan soils was found to range from < 3 to 70 mg/kg which is lower than the values obtained in this study (Liu et al, 2021). However, a maximum concentration of 437 mg/kg was reported from Poland soil collected near a zinc re nery plant which is higher than the maximum concentration observed in this study (Poledniok et al, 2012). The Ga occurs naturally in highly weathered soils and is said to vary with different soil types (Liu et al, 2021).…”

Temporal Variability of Gallium in Natural Plants

“…The recorded concentrations of Ga in plants growing in uncontaminated soils range from 0.001 to 0.30 mg kg −1 [ 2 , 5 , 9 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Most of the published data relate to cultivated plants such as rice and wheat.…”

“…The two main applications for Ga are integrated circuits and optoelectronic devices [ 1 ]. Gallium has a similar ionic radius with elements such as magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) [ 2 ]. This may point to a similar behavior of these elements in environmental processes.…”

Evaluation of the effects of metals on biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons

“…Aluminum in high concentrations (>1000 μg mL −1 ) interferes strongly in the determination of trace amounts of several chemical elements when inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) is used as analytical technique. This interference is well known [3] and it has been subject for the development of several works [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Ishizuka et al determined trace amounts of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium and silicon in 99.99% aluminum oxide by ICP OES.…”

“…The procedure used involved a separation and preconcentration step where gallium was extracted as chloro complexes in presence of ascorbic acid for reduction of iron. Gallium was determined by ICP OES [10]. Mahamuni et al [11] proposed a separation and preconcentration procedure for the determination of gallium in bauxite ores by liquid-liquid extraction using 2-octylaminopyridine in chloroform media.…”