Single calibration method for the determination of lead in nickel alloys and steels by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A general method for the determination of lead in complex nickel-based alloys and steels using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is proposed. The method involves nickel as the single matrix element in the calibration procedure aided by the use of an ammonium dihydrogen phosphate chemical modifier to eliminate matrix effects. The method allows a wide range of alloy types to be analysed from a common set of calibration standards, which considerably simplifies and shortens the analysis. The method has been found to be successful in a variety of ETAAS systems. The detection limit is 0.1 µg g^–1 of lead. British Chemical Standards (BCS) reference materials in the range 0.2–160 µg g^–1 of lead were analysed and the values obtained were found to be within one standard deviation of those certified.