Hydride generation flow injection using graphite furnace detection: emphasis on determination of tin

Abstract Hydride generation, (HG), using flow injection methods, (FI), provides an ideal way to separate the hydride-forming analytes from a large volume of matrix. By trapping the hydrides on a Pd-coated L'vov platform at low temperature, it can be shown that the full process is at least 80% efficient for As, Bi, Ge, Sb, Se, Sn and Te. While this work was not fully automated, the various functions were conducted on-line. This method has been tested for the determination of Sn in various samples. The Pd-treated stabilized temperature platform furnace, (STPF), was used for in situ trapping and atomization of the analyte. Integrated absorbances were used for the measurement of the analytical signal. The detection limit for Sn was 7 ng l for a 10-ml sample. The analytical precision was 3–5% RSD at 1 ng of Sn. Inter-element interferences were investigated. The method has been applied to the determination of Sn in NIST Steel, River Sediment, Orchard Leaves and Bovine Liver Standard Reference Materials.