Determination of lead by hydride generation and atomization under low pressure using atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of lead by a low pressure electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric technique with hydride generation. The lead hydride is generated by adding 10% m/v sodium tetrahydroborate solution to the acidified sample containing an oxidant in a sub-atmospheric pressure generator using a vacuum pump. The liberated hydride is passed directly into an evacuated, heated quartz tube. The proposed method gives improved sensitivity. The detection limit (3σ) is 0.10 ng ml^–1 and the relative standard deviation obtained from ten replicate determinations of 0.5 ng of lead is 4.8%. The method is applied to the determination of lead in standard river sediments. Good accuracy and precision are obtained.