The role of different soil sample digestion methods on trace elements analysis: a comparison of ICP-MS and INAA measurement results

Abstract

The measurement of trace-element concentration in soil, sediment and waste, is generally a combination of a digestion procedure for dissolution of elements and a subsequent measurement of the dissolved elements. "Partial" and "total" digestion methods can be used in environmental monitoring activities. To compare measurement results obtained by different methods, it is crucial to determine and to maintain control of the bias of the results obtained by these methods. In this paper, ICP-MS results obtained after matrix digestion with modified aqua regia (HCl + HNO 3 + H 2 O 2 ) method and two "total" digestion methods (microwave aqua regia + HF and HNO 3 + HF) are compared with those obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis, a nondestructive analytical method for the determination of the total mass concentrations of inorganic components in environmental matrices. The comparison was carried out on eight agricultural soil samples collected in one test area and measured by k 0 -INAA and ICP-MS to determine As, Co, Cr, Sb and Zn mass concentration. The bias of results for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn of the three digestion methods were assessed using selected measurement standards. This

Estimation and Bio-Availability of Toxic Metals between Soils and Plants

“…Then we added 6 ml reagent-grade concentrated nitric acid (69%) followed by 2 ml of (48%) hydrofluoric acid and 2 ml of (35%) hydrogen peroxide and waited for 10-15 mins to complete the reaction. All vessels were tightly closed and loaded into the microwave digestion system [31][32], and the system was run as indicated previously. After the run was completed, the vessels were taken out and each digested sample was transferred to 50 ml volumetric flasks, and the volume of each sample was adjusted accurately up to 50 ml with deionized distilled water.…”

Levels of essential and non-essential metals in the raw seeds and processed food (roasted seeds and bread) of maize/corn (Zea mays L.) cultivated in selected areas of Ethiopia

“…The optimum condition is the one which require minimum reagent volume consumption, minimum reflux time, clarity of digests, and ease of simplicity [21][22][23][24][25][26]. In this study, to prepare a clear sample solution suitable for the analysis using AAS, a lot of trials of digestion procedures were made on the maize seed powder using the HNO 3 , H 2 O 2 and HClO 4 acid mixtures by varying parameters such as volume of the acid mixture, digestion time and digestion temperature to optimize the digestion procedure (Tables 1 and 2).…”

Hydrocarbon Cracking Over Red Mud and Modified Red Mud Samples

“…Approximately 0.3 g of the sample as well as certified reference material, Soil IAEA 7, was placed in a Teflon TM pressure vessel, and 6 ml nitric acid (65 % extra pure, Riedel-Delta/n) and 4 ml hydrofluoric acid (40 %, Qualikems) were added. The vessels were capped, sealed, and heated following the digestion method cycles reported elsewhere with some modification [7], and the vessels were then cooled down for 2 h. Aqua regia solution was used to complete the digestion, where 12 ml of aqua regia was added to the samples. Each vessel was sealed and heated, which followed the above procedure.…”