title: Simultaneous determination of bromine and chlorine in coal using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct solid sample analysis.
abstract: A new method for the direct analysis of coal using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct solid sample analysis was developed, aiming at the determination of Br and Cl. The procedure does not require any significant sample pretreatment and allows simultaneous determination of both elements to be carried out, requiring small mass aliquots of sample (about 0.5 mg). All operating parameters, including carrier gas flow-rate and RF power, were optimized for maximum sensitivity. The use of modifiers/aerosol carriers (Pd, Pd+Al and Pd+Ca) was evaluated, and the mixture of Pd and Ca was chosen, allowing pyrolysis and vaporization temperatures of 700°C and 1900°C, respectively. Chlorine was accurately determined using calibration against solid standards, whereas Br could also be determined using calibration against aqueous standard solutions. The limits of quantification were 0.03 μg g(-1) for Br and 7 μg g(-1) for Cl, and no spectral interferences were observed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jefferson S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: de Gois
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Éderson R
authors.initials: ÉR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; INCT de Energia e Ambiente do CNPq, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Welz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; INCT de Energia e Ambiente do CNPq, Brazil. Electronic address: daniel.borges@ufsc.br.
authors.forename: Daniel L G
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D001966:Bromine / Q000032:analysis*; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis*; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D002713:Chlorine; D001966:Bromine
keywords: Coal analysis; Direct solid sample analysis; Electrothermal vaporization; Halogen determination