Optimization of Dry Ashing of Whole Blood Samples for Trace Metal Analysis

Abstract

Dry ashing is an established method. Ashing whole blood samples are, however, often difficult to carry out with significant sample loss, and the procedure is not well documented. A new procedure has been developed and optimized to dry-ash whole blood samples for trace metal analyses. The procedure reduces both the dry-ashing time by more than two thirds and sample loss. The ashed sample can be readily used in subsequent, simultaneous or individual analysis of several metals by ICP-OES, as demonstrated in the analysis of a whole blood sample. The new procedure is simple, inexpensive, and faster than the established method.

Pretreatment of whole blood using hydrogen peroxide and UV irradiation. Design of the advanced oxidation process

“…Zn concentration in our AOP-treated blood sample was found to be 282(8) ppb, and the result was consistent with that from the standard dry ashing, followed by an ICP analysis which has been published elsewhere [66]. The results of the Zn detection using ASV are shown in Fig.…”

“…The Zn peak shifted slightly more positive, most likely due to matrix effects of the residues in the AOP-treated sample which has been witnessed other detections [7,67]. While other metals are found in blood they are either at a much lower concentration or are reduced at a different potential and therefore not interfering with zinc [42,66]. Additionally, the electrode used in this analysis found minimal interference regarding zinc detection [42].…”

Highly sensitive detection of hexavalent chromium utilizing a sol-gel/carbon nanotube modified electrode

“…Swine blood was dry-ashed using the optimized method reported by Bragg and Xue [62]. A 16.3 g sample of the blood ash was dissolved in one mL of concentrated trace analytical grade HNO 3 , and was diluted to 50 mL with water and a buffer to form a final solution containing 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 M KCl, and 1.4% HNO 3 .…”

Direct determination of cadmium and lead in pharmaceutical ingredients using anodic stripping voltammetry in aqueous and DMSO/water solutions

“…Additionally, the elevated temperatures in the two approaches can result in low and inaccurate measurement of more volatile metals such as mercury. Incomplete mineralization is also common [64,65]. For post wet-ashing samples, high acidity in the digested solutions may cause damage to electrodes and decrease the allowed potential window due to an enlarged hydrogen overpotential peak.…”