A comparison of copper speciation results obtained using electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry and computer modelled data

Abstract

A comparative study is described between the direct determination of copper species obtained by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) and the predicted data using the NSPEC computer speciation program. Inorganic copper nitrate and copper citrate species were determined at different pH levels using ETAAS following a range of solid-phase extraction procedures. The results indicated that the NSPEC speciation program and experimental data identified the anionic species to be dominant. For a relatively simple system the NSPEC program can therefore be used to compare theoretical data with experimental data.