Flow injection ion-exchange pre-concentration for the determination of aluminium by atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

A flow injection ion-exchange pre-concentration procedure, using a micro-column loaded with Amberlite IRA-400, is outlined for the simple and quantitative determination of trace amounts of aluminium in the ng I^–1 range by atomic absorption and/or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The optimisation of the operating conditions and figures of merit are given and a possible retention mechanism for aluminium in the anion exchanger is discussed. Serum aluminium is so tightly bound by proteins that it is not retained by the resin in the flow procedure. The method can be used, however, for the rapid determination of free aluminium in waters and haemodialysis fluids.