Thallium identification in selected atmospheric deposition samples

0004-6981/80/0701-0867

Almaspheric Environment, Vol. 14. pp. 867-870. 0 Pergamon Prats Ltd. 1980. Printed in Great Britain.

PRELIMINARY

SCJZOO/O

COMMUNICATION

THALLIUM IDENTIFICATION IN SELECTED ATMOSPHERIC

DEPOSITION SAMPLES

J. E. Bonelli*, H. E. Taylor, L. J. Schroder U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division Box 25046, Mail Stop 407, Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 U.S.A. R. K. Skogerboe Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, U.S.A.

(First received 22 April 1980) The absence

of suitable

tion of atmospheric proposed

for

analysis,

spark

deposition

the

source

anodic

methods,

include:

monitoring

anticipated

a separation

(Bonelli

ambient

of expensive

Methodology a direct

differential-pulse

employs

a thin-film

electrolyte

acid buffered and masking

prompted

by the identification

have reported

that many trace

high temperature municipal thallium

in examining

combustion

incinerators.

atmospheric of several

sources

This is consistent

interfere

electrode

potential

such

(Bonelli

as fossil-fueled

with Davison

depending

on the size of the particles.

of

These

and

for

(c),

waters

al., 1980).

the

from

lead

utilizing

This method

carbon

acetate

thallium

substrate. is used as a

and cadmium.

with airborne plants,

contamination

Lee and von Lehmden particles

metallurgical

et al. (1974), who have reported

In addition,

technique

can readily be achieved.

sources.

in fly ash, collected from stacks of coal fired power plants,

million by weight,

et

on a glassy

for possible

power

in

sensitivity

analysis;

in natural

interferences

in association

are cited

features.

adequate

acid and potassium

atmospheric

are mobilized

methods

the

of thallium

limit of 10 ng .J? thallium samples

spectrometry,

the analysis.

supported

overlap

deposition

activation

ng r’); (b), the need to perform

with

to perform

technique

to eliminate

time, a detection

to develop

(
for the determination

working

neutron

of the electrochemical

steps

facilities

have been

absorption

of these

examina-

methods

one or more undesirable

at pH 4.5 with acetic

agent

elements

potentially

voltammetric

disk mercury

atomic

in precipitation

analytical

been developed

Using a 10 minute electrolysis The interest

which

anodic stripping

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic supporting

levels of thallium

Several utilizing

samples,

With the exception exhibit

the comprehensive

1977).

Examples

for preconcentration

and sophisticated

rotating

(Davis,

techniques.

each of these

components

has recently

thallium

in environmental

al., 1980).

et

however,

matrix

has, to date, precluded

electrothermal-atomization

(a), the requirement

from

availability

thallium

and electrochemical

voltammetry,

limitations

of

mass spectrometry,

publication

stripping

methodology

for the toxic element

determination

spectrophotometric a companion

analytical

was (1973)

derived

smelters

concentrations

to range frorn 5 to 200 parts a detailed

trace

element

from

and of per

material

868

Preliminary Communication

balance

study (Radian

flue gases. Carson,

Corp.,

1975) indicates

This is entirely

consistent

important

of the primary

potential

commercial

1970). Fokin et

that thallium Telliard,

sources

al. (1961) report

1979).

Although

sources

All analyses variety

of thallium

on these

obtained

bulk

of thallium

of thallium

and its compounds

in the

(Smith and

samples

collection

collector

was approximately

U.S. Geological

samples

samples

The two snow samples

Prior

analytical

protocol

quality

addition

stripping

received

State

technique,

monitoring

and must be

program

U.S.A.,

utilizing

funnel

which

tubing

connected

monitoring

specially

drained

(Skogerboe

during winter to aid in the box.

States

The opening

for the

were also obtained

program.

These samples

for accurate

trace

than decantation

dissolved,

by were

element study of

et al., 1980).

electrolyte/buffer/masking in the

into a

the funnel

were taken as part of a comprehensive

other

were

by a wind screen.

areas of the United

no pretreatment

only thallium

Several Therefore,

and Pennsylvania,

of polyethylene

water quality

of the supporting

analysis.

in a

(see below).

was housed in an insulated

Montana,

all

collected

than conclusive

polyethylene

of a tritium

from Colstrip,

the samples

and subsequent

rather

The funnel was heated

in other

wastewater,

samples

element

not all of which may have been suitable

power plant on surface

to analysis,

of anodic

sampling

A looped section

collected

to industrial

trace

informative

evaporation.

List (Keith and

wet and dry fall deposition.

than

in New York

but for purposes

of means,

of coal-fired

other

was a straight-sided

bottle.

specifies

deposition.

between

Survey for a precipitation

at 115O’C.

on the Toxic Pollutants directed

One

(Greenspoon,

court settlement

single site bulk precipitation

designed

collected

is vaporized

Decree”

1.5 m above ground level and was protected

Survey,

by a variety

the impact

atmospheric

of snow, and the whole assembly

Those bulk precipitation

analyses.

specifically

be considered

in order to retard

complete

obtained

must

receiving bottle

(EPA) Consent

for purposes

The collector

polytetrafluoroethylene with the receiving

including

by a more carefully

collectors.

94% of the thallium

among the 13 metals was

of lead and zinc sulfide ores.

from the flue dusts of smelters

was made to discriminate

by the U.S. Geological

constructed

furnaces, Agency

settlement

collected

precipitation

is recovery

on time-composited

originally

to confirmation

Those

this

No attempt

were

results

subject

be included

must be considered,

of locations.

reported

Protection

were performed

of the samples

to remove

solution. electroactive

Because state

settled of the

produced

an

response.

Thallium concentration of collected the

(30%) enrichment

source is from processing

that in rotary

and its compounds

contributing

nature

with the high volatility

atmospheric

The 1978 “U.S. Environmental

solids

is a considerable

1977).

Another

the

there

sample.

extrapolated

determination

results

in Table 1 are reported

The corresponding

concentration regression

fit.

estimate

experimental in

on the basis of nanograms

of thallium

error is based upon the 95% confidence

a single,

four

point

(three

addition),

per liter

interval

standard-addition-

of

869

Prefiminary~ommuni~tion Table 1. Concentrations

of Thailium in Selected

Atmospheric

Deposition

Samples (closed circles).

_~__~_~_____~~~______~~~_~~____~~__--...-~~~~~~Sampling

Location

Period

Cont.

(U.S.A.)

Tl (ngr’)

12129178 - 1122179

East Meadow, NY (1)

gg

f

4

12/29/78 - l/22/79

Bay Park, NY (2)

26

+

4

Rock Hill, NY (3)

19

2

10

1011177 - 12131177

Menlo Park, CA (4)

15

+

6

IO/l/77

Lincoln,

21

2

14

15

2

6

27

+

2

- 2/l/79

l/2/79

0

- 10/31/77

Albuquerque,

9125177 1111177 - 11130177

Deposition

NB (5)

samples

circles):

Anchorage,

Madison,

WI; Albany,

NM (6)

Salt Lake City, UT (7)

from

the following

AK; Arvada, CO; Colstrip, Allegany

State

sites

were

found to contain

MT; Bismarck,

Park, Canton,

Chazy,

no detectable

ND; Portland,

Hinckley,

thallium

OR; Athens,

Pavilion,

(open

PA; Waco, TX,

Stillwater

Reservoir,

and

Upton, NY QJ.S.A). Of a total of 12 samples

taken in and around New York State,

tions were found in 3 samples, areas.

2 of which were obtained

About one third of the samples

program

contained

detectabfe

of which contained plant (Skogerboe

of interferences

analyzed

emission

(Batley Florence,

technique

that neither

of trace

detectable

reported

and Taylor, reported thallium

1975), and in sea waters

concentra-

to heavily

for the tritium

taken in Colstrip,

attributed

were predicated

consistent

prior to analysis

(Garbarino

elements

sample

thallium

urbanized monitoring

Montana,

to the proximity

both

of the power

thallium.

determinations

and copper)

and the results

to previously

and Florence, 1975).

lead,

were screened

for thallium

when compared

concentrations

of the thallium

(cadmium,

19801, all samples optical

It is notable

et al., 1980), contained

Since the validity

on Long Island, in proximity

taken in other areas of the United States

thallium.

measurable

U.S.A., detectable

with previous

by a multielement 1979).

here.

on the established experimentation inductively-coupled

Those that met the interference

These determination

concentrations

in natural

maximum (Bonelli

et

level al.,

argon plasma criteria

were

may be seen in perspective (surface)

of 10 to 19 ngL*‘(Matthews

waters

and Riley,

of about 4 ngP_’ 1969; Batley and

870

Preliminary Communication The authors

acknowledge

Survey in providing

several

the interest

deposition

and assistance

of R. A. Schroeder

of the U.S. Geological

sampfes. References

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G. E. and Florence,

Voltammetry. Bonelli,

T. M. (197.5) Determination

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Voltammetric

of Thallium in Natural

Chem. Interfacial

H. E. and Skogerboe,

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R. K. (1980) A Direct

Method for the Determination

of Thallium

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R. L., Natusch,

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