Determinação de elementos traço em solo por ICP-MS após volatilização empregando combustão iniciada por micro-ondas

Abstract

In this work the microwave-induced combustion (MIC) method was proposed for the decomposition of soil samples and subsequent determination of As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb and Se by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Soil samples (up to 300 mg) were mixed with microcrystalline cellulose (300 or 500 mg), homogenized and pressed as pellets. Pellets were positioned in a holder that was introduced in a quartz vessel. The system was pressurized with 20 bar of oxygen and ammonium nitrate solution (50 mL of 6 mol L-1) was used as aid for the ignition step. The type and concentration of absorbing solution (diluted or concentrated nitric or hydrochloric acids, their mixtures, or even water), as well as the use of a reflux step (5 or 10 min) after combustion were studied. Accuracy was evaluated using of certified reference materials (CRM) of soil and sediment. Using water, HNO3 or HCl (0.25 mol L-1) the agreement for Hg was better than 96%. For Bi, Cd and Se the agreement was better than 95% using 0.20 mol L-1 HCl + 0.50 mol L-1 HNO3. Using HCl 4 mol L-1 HNO3 and 2 mol L-1 the agreement was better than 94% for all analytes (As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb and Se). The detection limits by ICP-MS were 0.015, 0.005, 0.002, 0.006, 0.012, 0.014 mg g-1 for As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb and Se, respectively (using 300 mg of sample). The main advantage of the proposed method is related to the complete separation of the analyte from sample matrix avoiding possible interferences in the determination step. Moreover, when compared with microwave-assisted wet digestion, MIC minimized the use of concentrated acids and up to eight samples could be simultaneously digested in 25 min. Taking into account that only diluted acids were suitable for absorption of As, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb and Se the proposed MIC method can be considered as in agreement with the green chemistry recommendations.