The determination of metals in wool by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

Atomic absorption has been shown to provide a simple and precise method for the determination of chromium, copper, mercury, tin, zinc, calcium, strontium and barium in wool. The method of standard additions is used for calcium and a calibration-graph method for the other metals. Both methods have an accuracy and reproducibility of about ±3 per cent. The wool sample is hydrolysed in constant-boiling hydrochloric acid, and the calibration graphs are prepared by using wool hydrolysates containing standard amounts of metal to compensate for physical and chemical interferences caused by hydrochloric acid, amino-acids and ions present in the wool.