Determination of the high aluminium content in suspended matter samples collected in natural waters by slurry sampling–electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The problems encountered during the determination of particulate Al, as the main matrix element, in very small samples by slurry sampling–electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry are described. In view of the high Al concentrations, a reduction in sensitivity must be achieved. The combination of the use of an alternative Al analytical line and gas-flow facility and the interference from other main matrix elements allows the determination of Al levels of up to 10% m/m in the initial solid sample. Reliability of the entire procedure was confirmed by analyses performed on three standard reference sediments.