Analytical method for Bismuth determination from stationary sources by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper reports determination of bismuth from stationary emission sources using atomic absorption spectrometry with atomisation in a graphite tube (GFAAS) and with generation of hydrides (HGAA). In the last years hydride generation technique (HGAA) became more and more popular in laboratories for estimating trace metals in materials with changeable composition, while the graphite furnace method is often not reliable due to the strong and variable matrix effect and signal splitting. The metals sampling train is used to determine the bismuth in stationary source emissions. The stack gas is withdrawn isokinetically from the source with the particulate emissions collected in a probe and on heated filters and the gaseous emissions collected in a series of chilled impingers with absorption solutions. The filter, absorptions solution and rinsing solutions are recovered for analysis. This paper presents the results obtained by optimizing the method for bismuth determination, respectively the characteristic parameters by atomic absorption spectrometry, with atomisation in a graphite tube (GFAAS) and with hydrides generation technique (HGAA). The limit of detection values obtained were between 1.84 µg/l for method GFAAS and 0.06 µg/l for HGAA. Both methods can be used to determine the concentration of bismuth in fixed emissions sources but with a better accuracy and recovery for HGAAS.