Comparison of Analytical Methods for Quantifying the Levels of Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, and Nickel in Mineral Fertilizers and Industrial By-products

Abstract

USEPA 3051a) were heated. Extraction without heating and stirring was employed in 10 percent HCl and 50 mmol L −1 DTPA methods. The Graybill's modified F-test, t-test for mean error, and the linear correlation coefficient analysis were used to compare test method performance. Equivalent results to USEPA 3051a were found with the following methods: DTPA for the extraction of lead in zinc sources and concentrated HCl and H 2 SO 4 for the extraction of cadmium and chromium in copper sources. However, the absolute values of cadmium, chromium, and nickel recovered by the use of H 2 SO 4 were greater regardless of the source. The greater extraction of contaminants in the evaluated methods suggests that there is need to review the official method if the aim is to quantify the total levels of these elements in raw materials and mineral fertilizers.

A Comparative Study of Total and Leachable Concentrations of Metallic Micronutrients in Canadian Marginal and Agricultural Land used for Sorghum Production

“…However, soils with a lower pH, or pH buffering capacity, often have higher extractability of nutrients. 14,21,22 The origin of the soil pH is derived from the parent material and the weathering processes associated with it. The classification of the soil pH can be broken up into three main categories, (i) over 7.5, the soil is alkaline, (ii) between 6.5 and 7.5…”