Determination of Metals in Environmental Waters by Solution Cathode Glow Discharge -Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (SCGD-AES) with a Syringe Pump for Sample Introduction

This study reports a syringe injection pump for sample introduction for solution cathode glow discharge (SCGD) atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). The experimental conditions are optimized at 60 mA discharge current, 2.5 mm gap spacing, 2.0 mm distance from the glass capillary to cathode, 1.60 mL/min flow rate, and pH 1.0 based on the detection limits (DLs) obtained for Li, Cd, Cu, Ag, Mn, Pb, Cr, and Zn. The detection limits for Li, Cd, Cu, Ag, Mn, Pb, Cr, and Zn were 0.24, 12.26, 12.08, 1.09, 46.42, 25.81, 183.05, and 29.01 µg/L, respectively, significantly lower than using the traditional peristaltic pump. The detection limits decreased by 1.4, 1.8, 2.2, 5.0, 1.4, 1.4, 1.4, 1.6, and 2.2-fold for these elements. The flow rate and the solution consumed per unit time were significantly reduced using this design. The spectral detection revealed stable and practical operation of the system with relative standard deviations <0.85%. Water samples from Yangtze River, Baixi River, and Baiyun Reservoir are analyzed using the modified SCGD system and its evaluation is based upon comparison to inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The modified device operates at atmospheric pressure without inert gas and integrates a syringe injection pump and a compact spectrometer to optimize solution utility, analytical performance, and operation size for industrial and environmental monitoring applications.