Determination of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in environmental samples: microwave-assisted total digestion versus aqua regia and nitric acid extraction

Abstract

We validated the determination of the content of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn using two digestion protocols: a microwave-assisted total digestion and an aqua regia extraction procedure based on the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) 11466 method. Our goal in validating these two protocols, along with a nitric acid digestion, is to propose a rapid, cheap and easily automated digestion method for monitoring heavy metal content in environmental samples. We applied the digestion protocols to samples with a wide range of organic matter such as sediments, soils, sludges and plant material. For samples with a low carbonate or organic matter contents, such as sediments and agricultural soils, aqua regia digestion in an aluminium block was revealed to be an optimum estimator for the total metal content. For samples with a high organic matter content, such as organic horizons of forest floor layers, plant material and organic soils, nitric acid digestion could substitute microwave (MW)-hydrofluoric acid (HF) digestion. Except in a few samples with high organic matter or low heavy metal content, the RSD values obtained after the application of the proposed digestion procedures were lower than 5%. Based on the obtained results, a decision flow chart for choosing the fit-for-purpose digestion procedure is suggested.