Determination of Trace Lead in Environmental Samples by Flow Injection and Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

A new method for the determination of lead is proposed using flow injection and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS). For this studies, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ is used as the oxidizing agent, 100 μL of sample and 100 μL of 3.0 % (m/v) NaBH₄ are simultaneously injected into two carrier streams, 0.5 % (m/v) tartaric acid and deionized water, respectively. A sampling rate of about 150 determinations per hour was achieved, requiring 15 mL of NaBH₄ and a waste generation of 250 mL. The detection limit of 0.3 μg L^-1 for Pb was achieved and the relative standard deviation of 2.1 % for 10 μg L^-1 Pb was obtained. The method was shown to be satisfactory for determination of traces of Pb in food, water and soil samples.