Effects of organised media on the generation of volatile species for atomic spectrometry

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy 1995-06, Vol.50 (4), p.377-391
• Main Authors: Fernández de la Campa, M.R., Segovia García, E., Valdés-Hevia y Temprano, M.C., Aizpún Fernández, B., Marchante Gayón, J.M., Sanz-Medel, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/0584-8547(94)00155-O

The use of surfactant-based organised assemblies, such as micelles and vesicles, to improve the characteristics of room temperature chemical generation of volatile species of metals and semi-metals (e.g. hydride generation, cold mercury vapour or alkylcompound generation), as a means to further enhance sample introduction efficiency/kinetics for atomic techniques, is reviewed. The complex influence of different organised media (including cationic, anionic, non-ionic and zwitter-ionic micelles and cationic and anionic vesicles) on the hydride generation of the elements As, Pb and Cd and on Hg 0 cold vapour generation have been revised and compared with organised media effects on alkylmetals generation of Se, Pb, Cd and Sn. Enhancements in efficiency/transport of volatile species formed in the surfactant-based media, increases in the reaction kinetics, stabilization of some room temperature unstable species and also changes in the observed selectivity of reactions taking place in conventional aqueous media are some of the discussed effects. Possible mechanisms and analytical potential and usefulness of this enhancement by surfactants of the generation of volatile species for atomic detection methodologies are summarized and illustrated with the determination of low levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, tin, selenium and mercury.