Determination of lead in plants in controlling phytoremediation processes using slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The comparative determination of lead in plant samples by two atomic spectrometric techniques is reported. At first, slurry sampling electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) was applied. The results obtained were compared with those found after a wet digestion procedure by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) or ETAAS. The accuracy of the studied methods was checked using a certified reference material (CL − 1 CRM, Cabbage Leaves). The recovery of lead was 90% for slurry sampling ETAAS, and 86.6% for liquid sampling ETAAS. The advantages of the slurry sampling ETAAS method are the simplicity of sample preparation and very good sensitivity.