Electrostatic capture of gaseous tetraalkyllead compounds and their determination by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The sampling of tetraalkyllead (TAL) compounds in artificially polluted air by electrostatic capture and their subsequent determination by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrometry is described. This technique, coupled to a low cost, portable, battery-powered field sample could provide a fsat, simple and sensitive method for TAL determination in environmental samples. Detection limits are of the order of 100 pg of lead.