Analytical Methods for Multi-Element and Special Element Analysis. Volume I

As a special analytical chemist, and soon head of an analytical department, the author had to ensure both the quality control of routine work, as well as to broaden the scope of parameters to be offered. The first volume of his selected papers is focused on chemical analytical procedures which have been developed in addition to usual operations. Whereas in organic analysis, separation and subsequent substance identification have been main tasks, inorganic trace analysis has to tackle mainly to reach sufficient detection limits, and to avoid contaminations. Compared with the determination of main components, analysis of traces might be less precise, but more sensitive, and selectivity and ruggedness towards cross-interferences has to be validated, e.g. by recovery, standard addition or various sample weight – reagent proportions. In addition, blanks from the entire procedure, including reagents, vessels and atmospheric immission, have to be prepared in every batch. The validity of data can be easily checked, if different procedures yield similar results. As this is not possible in many cases, regular participation in ring tests is essential. Here, the same homogenized sample is sent to various labs, and the results statistically treated by the sender, yielding the most probable result. The use of certified reference materials to prove an analytical procedure has brought great progress of validity within the last decades. But the number of certified parameters is limited to those which are often requested for, and problems of transferring something collected in the environment to a homogenous sample ready for weighing, are omitted. In trace element analysis, precision and systematic errors have to be considered, starting from drying, milling and cutting, till suitable digestion methods, which are suitable for multi-element determination methods. Some elements, however, have to be treated in a special way, because of volatilization, incomplete solubility, interference in the final determination method, or incomplete detection limits.