The carbonisation of biological material is proposed as a technique for facilitating the destruction of samples prior to the determination of elements by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Biological materials heated at 300 "C for 1-2 h are carbonised and easily powdered to fine particles by using an agate mortar and pestle. Losses of inorganic elements from the samples during carbonisation at 300 "C for 1 h were less than 5% for sod i u m, mag nesiu m, al u m in iu m, chlorine, potassium, ca Ici u m, vanadium, chrom iu m, manganese, co ba It, nickel, copper, zinc, bromine, rubidium and cadmium, but more than 30% for selenium and about 100% for mercury. The carbon remaining in the carbonised samples acts as a binder for the sample when discs are made.
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