User:Puja Mody/Notebook/Chem 571: Gold Nanoparticles/2012/10/09

Atomic Absorption Spectrum

Goals

• Run AAS on AuNP/BSA samples to determine true concentrations

Procedure

• The AA was calibrated using standard solutions made by Dr. Miller. The concentrations of these standard solutions were 5,8,10,15,20,25,30 and 40 ppm. The AA runs were blanked with 1M HCl.
• Deionized water was run through the AA between samples.
• The Au/BSA samples had been made on 2012/09/26.
  • Fluid was removed from fibers before being analyzed, as fibers could clog the tubing.
• The samples were runt through the AA and blanked with 1M HCl between every 4 samples.

Data/Results

• Absorbance and concentrations of standards and solutions. It can be seen that there is a general trend. as concentration increases, so does absorbance. There is a drop and then a spike and the 138-140 range.

Conclusions

• For unknown reasons, there were no fibers present in the solution. But it was apparent that the gold had reacted because the solution was purple. Therefore, we went ahead with the experiment with the intent or repeating it at a later date.
• The AAS allowed us to conclude that the measured concentration of gold in the solution was different from what we had anticipated when we made the solutions at specific mole ratios. This could indicate the fact that the lack of NP fibers in these samples resulted in the variation in concentration observed.