Stibine and bismuthine trapping in quartz tube atomizers for atomic absorption spectrometry — Method optimization and analytical applications

The compact trap-and-atomizer device was employed to trap stibine and bismuthine, and subsequently to volatilize collected analyte and atomize it for atomic absorption spectrometric detection. The device is actually the multiple microflame quartz tube atomizer (multiatomizer) with inlet arm modified to serve as the trap and to accommodate the oxygen delivery capillary employed for burning out hydrogen during the trapping step. The optimization of Sb and Bi collection in the device is presented based on a study of the influence of relevant experimental parameters on preconcentration efficiency of both analytes. The parameters studied were: (1) trap temperature during trapping and (2) hydrogen flow rate and (3) trap temperature during volatilization and (4) the stability of the trapped analyte species. Under optimized conditions, the preconcentration efficiency was 100% for both analytes. The trap-and-atomizer device can be replaced by the simple conventional externally heated quartz tube atomizer without any trap as demonstrated on the ultratrace antimony determination in groundwater reference material and mineral water samples. The interference of other hydride forming elements on Bi in-situ collection in the conventional externally heated quartz tube atomizer was investigated.