Subnanogram fluorine determination by aluminum monofluoride molecular absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The diatomic molecule of aluminum monofluoride, AIF, gives a sharp absorption band spectrum at 227.5 nm in both flames and a carbon rod furnace. The absorption intensity is high enough so that it can be used for a sensitive analytical method of fluorine determination. The best sedtivity observed Is 0.021 ng of fluorine with the carbon rod furnace, which Is the best so far reported for this element and Is also superior to that obtained with the N20-C2H2 flame, Le., 24 pg F/mL. An excess aluminum solution is applied first to the furnace before the fluorine containing sample is pipetted, so that the AIF molecule is effectively formed inside the furnace. A certain amount of strontium and nickel Is found to enhance the signal with decreasing the background. The method has been successfully applied to biological samples and also to organofluorine compounds.

Al determination in whole blood samples as AlF via high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry: potential application to forensic diagnosis of drowning

“…Two different processes affect the formation and detection of the AlF molecule in the graphite furnace; on the one hand, as indicated by Tsunoda and co-workers in their pioneering work, 39 AlF formation seems to be only possible if free Al atoms are available in the gaseous phase, for which high temperatures are required. On the other hand, if too high temperatures are used, dissociation of the AlF molecule formed will occur, with the subsequent signal reduction.…”

Novel non-target analysis of fluorine compounds using ICPMS/MS and HPLC-ICPMS/MS

“…Major challenges for the development of such a method are the high ionisation potential (17.418 eV) of F and the location of its resonance line in the vacuum ultraviolet range (95 nm). 24,25 Low ionisation yields for the formation of F + ions and high occurring background levels due to interferences, such as 16 Table 2. Table 1 Investigated parameters for method development.…”

Determination of non-metals via molecular absorption using high-resolution continuum source absorption spectrometry and graphite furnace atomization

“…The first element under investigation, the halogen F, is of high clinical and environmental interest. 5,6 Its determination via molecular absorption in a graphite furnace atomizer was previously described in the works of Tsunoda et al 7 and Dittrich et al, 8 both based on the formation of aluminium monofluoride (AlF). Unfortunately, this method suffers from significant interference due to matrix anions and cations.…”