Atomic-absorption spectrophotometric determination of lead in beverages and fruit juices and of lead extracted by their action on glazed ceramic surfaces

Abstract

A rapid procedure for the determination of lead in beverages and fruit juices by directly aspirating them into an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer is described. Concentrations of lead down to 0·1 p.p.m. can easily be determined. The standard deviation in the range 0·5–2·0 p.p.m. of lead is about 0·04 p.p.m. The accuracy of the method is good; although its sensitivity is slightly lower than that with methods in which condensation procedures are used, the proposed method is simpler and more rapid. Interferences caused by the different matrices of the samples are negligible in most instances investigated.

The method has been applied to samples of beverages and fruit juices that had been kept in glazed ceramic cups for 0·5 h in an attempt to compare the amount of lead extracted by these products with that extracted by 4 per cent. acetic acid solution, the reagent used for testing ceramic ware for extractable lead.