Determination of lead and cadmium in environmental samples optimized by simplex optimized atomic absorption methods

Abstract

Simplex optimized methods for the determination of cadmium and lead in environmental samples by use of electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS) are presented. The optimum experimental conditions were attained by applying the composite modified simplex optimization method after considering the following variables: ramp to ashing temperature, ashing temperature, atomization ramping time, atomization temperature and modifier concentration. The way of introducing the matrix modifier in the graphite furnace is one of the most important among the numerous factors that must be considered for the development of an ETAAS method. The matrix modifier was injected into a graphite tube provided with a L'vov platform prior to the injection of the sample, leaving the modifier wet. The analytical investigations showed that the optimized systems are ideally suited to the analysis of cadmium and lead in samples of environmental origin offering good accuracy and precision.