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Degree

Master of Science in Chemistry, Youngstown State University, Department of Chemistry, 2010.

Abstract

Detection of metalloids such as selenium and antimony in the environment is important for technological and health reasons. Selenium in trace amounts has biological importance and hydride generation is one of the most effective sample introduction techniques for analytical atomic spectroscopy measurements. Aqueous solutions of selenium and antimony are converted to a gaseous form via hydride generation and the gas is delivered to an atomizer for measurement. Laser Detection of metalloids such as selenium and antimony in the environment is important for technological and health reasons. Selenium in trace amounts has biological importance and hydride generation is one of the most effective sample introduction techniques for analytical atomic spectroscopy measurements. Aqueous solutions of selenium and antimony are converted to a gaseous form via hydride generation and the gas is delivered to an atomizer for measurement. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, LIBS, is the atomic emission spectroscopy method that is used in this research to measure the gaseous form of the analyte generated by the hydride approach. Analyte atoms are atomized and excited by a laser-produced plasma and the atomic emission is measured at an element-specific wavelength. Optimization of the instrument to obtain the maximum wavelength of emission was performed using a 10 ppm solution of each element. The optimized parameters were used to measure various concentrations of each element in solution ranging from 0 to 10 ppm. A calibration curve was generated using the wavelength to plot intensity as a function of concentration. A limit of detection, LOD, was determined using the data from the calibration curve. Additional research in this work included studying the characteristics and properties of laser produced-plasmas and determining how this information can be utilized in further studies of trace analysis of selenium and antimony.

Subject Headings

Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Environmental science

Keywords

hydride generation; laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; trace analysis of selenium and antimony

Committee / Advisors

Josef Simeonsson, PhD (Advisor)
Peter Norris, PhD (Committee Member)
Daryl Mincey, PhD (Committee Member)

Pages

xv, 73 p.

Document number: ysu1288009807
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1288009807

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