Fast determination of lead in commercial iron oxide pigments by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using a slurry technique

Abstract

A simple and rapid method for the determination of lead in commercially available iron oxide pigments is described. The sample is suspended in water containing 0.1%V/V Triton X-100 and 0.07%m/V ammonium phosphate and the slurry is injected directly into the electrothermal atomiser of an atomic absorption spectrometer. Concentrations of iron oxide of up to 0.7%m/V can be used. The limit of determination is 0.6 µg g–1 of lead. Results obtained by a standard additions procedure and by direct calibration with aqueous standards agree with those obtained using the hydride generation technique.