Automated indirect fluoride determination by ICP-OES using discontinuous-flow analysis

• Published in: Toxicological and environmental chemistry Vol. 91; no. 7; pp. 1217 - 1227
• Main Authors: Kovács, Máté, Magarini, Riccardo, Halmos, Pál
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Automated; automation; cerium(III) fluoride; Emission analysis; Environmental chemistry; fluoride; Fluorides; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES); Nitric acid; Precipitates; Precipitation; Reaction time
• ISSN: 0277-2248; 1029-0486
• DOI: 10.1080/02772240802631907

An automated method for the indirect determination of fluoride by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using discontinuous-flow analysis has been developed. A modified flow injection analysis system was used for sample preparation. The method is based on the determination of excess cerium(III) ion after precipitation of CeF 3 . Separation of the precipitate is performed online on a syringe membrane filter that is cleaned each analysis cycle by 1 M nitric acid, ensuring a long life-time for the filter. As a result of the short reaction time, a detection limit of 9.5 mg L −1 was obtained. The precision (RSD) of the proposed method is 1.02% at fluoride concentration of 28 mg L −1 . The applicability of the technique for groundwater monitoring of fluoride-contaminated area is demonstrated.