Direct Determination of Lead in Suspended Particulate Matter in Air by Tungsten Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with a Punching Technique

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the determination of trace lead in suspended particulate matter in air has been investigated. The sample is collected on a cellulose nitrate filter (diameter: 44 mm, pore size: 0. 65 μm) with a low-volume air sampler (flow rate: 15 1/min). For direct determination, a small disc (diameter: 2. 0 mm) is cut from the filter with a paper punch, and it is introduced into a tungsten furnace. Then, 1. 0 μg of palladium (palladium chloride solution) as a matrix modifier which accomplishes available atomization of lead is added to the disc. The optimal thermal programs are as follows: drying at 300°C for 30 s, ashing at 1000°C for 30 s, and atomization at 2000°C for 2 s in a mixed gas atmosphere (flow rate: hydrogen 1. 01/min, argon 4. 01/min). The 283. 3 nm line was used for lead on the peak-area method under deuterium lamp-background correction. The relative standard deviation was 14. 3% for 7 times determination on 0. 035 μg/m3 lead in a suspended particulate matter.