3.37 - Inorganic Contaminants: Sample Preparation Approaches

Abstract

Monitoring of trace levels of inorganic contaminants in environmental, biological, and geological samples requires sample preparation approaches that allow for complete decomposition of the samples and effective extraction prior to detection by various analytical techniques. A variety of sample preparation approaches have been developed in the past several decades. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the most recent advances in sample preparation for inorganic species analyzed using minimal sample volumes and solvents. Various sample preparation methods such as digestion (dry ashing and wet methods, microwave-, ultraviolet-, and ultrasound-assisted methods), extraction techniques (acid, liquid, and solid phase, supercritical and pressurized solvent extraction), liquid and miniaturized sample preparation procedures for efficient and sensitive identification of inorganic species (nonmetals, metals, and organometallic species) with various instruments have been reported. Sample preparation approaches have been intensively investigated and have been shown to provide a promising framework for the detection of ultratrace levels with high accuracy and precision. This chapter summarizes the sample preparation techniques for the analysis of inorganic contaminants prior to chromatography, spectrophotometry, and mass spectrometry.