Abstract
A simple, efficient and cost effective method was developed and optimized for the digestion of fish tissue for the determination of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, Arsenic and Selenium by FAAS, CVAAS and HGAAS. Three of the more common classical open tubed acid digestion procedures were explored with the purpose of optimizing the variables and selecting the single most efficient, convenient and inexpensive digestion method. The effect of parameters such as digestion media, digestion time and digestion temperature on the efficiency of extraction of heavy metals from fish tissue was examined. Concentrated nitric acid was determined to be the most efficient digestion media for all the metals studied.•Efficient extraction of Arsenic, Selenium, Antimony, Lead and Cadmium was achieved at a digestion temperature of 100°C for 120min.•Optimum extraction of Mercury in fish tissue was achieved at 85°C for 120min since at higher temperatures, mercury was lost due to volatilization.
Highlights
Method ArticleOptimization of an acid digestion procedure for the determination of Hg, As, Sb, Pb and Cd in fish muscle tissue
The nature of the biological sample, the analyte, the reagent availability and equipment usually play a decisive role in the selection of the digestion procedure because it helps to select the best conditions suitable to give the highest yield of extractable metals
In excess of the boiling point of the acid or acid mixture, can result in a loss of volatile metals such as mercury and lead [6]. Digestion time is another important factor because it controls the length of exposure of the matrix to the oxidizing acid
Summary
Optimization of an acid digestion procedure for the determination of Hg, As, Sb, Pb and Cd in fish muscle tissue.
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