The Effect of Acid Digestion on the Recoveries of Trace Elements: Recommended Policies for the Elimination of Losses

Authors : Güler SOMER, Arzu Nakişci ÜNLÜ

Pages : 745-753

View : 24 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Digestion of biological materials is very important for trace element determinations. Although the microwave technique is mostly used, there are cases where open wet digestion is needed. This study examined the optimum conditions for the minimum loss of trace elements during the wet digestion of a sample. The effect of acid composition and digestion time for about 21 ions was investigated. The trace element concentrations were determined by differential pulse polarography. For the digestion procedure, a HClO4-HNO3 mixture was used for the first step and, after its evaporation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(60 min);, HCl was added as the second step, since in some cases it was necessary. The recoveries were high for ions like Zn, Cu, Tiinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IV);, Cd, Fe, Mninsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(II);, Coinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(II);, Vinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III); and Moinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(VI); after digestion insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(60 min); with the HNO3-HClO4 mixture and the addition of HCl had no effect. However, although care was taken to minimize losses by using a long-necked insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30 cm); flask, low recoveries were obtained for Pb, Seinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IV);, Asinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III);, Crinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III); and Crinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(VI); when HCl was used after HClO4-HNO3 digestion. Since Seinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IV);, Asinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III);, Crinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III);, Sninsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(II); and Sbinsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(III); were oxidized by the acid mixture this fact has to be considered for some procedures and they have to be reduced before their determination. It was found that when HNO3 was used alone or in an acid mixture for digestion, the recovery of Ni was only 40%. However, with the use of HClO4 or H2SO4, the recovery was very high.
Keywords : Open wet digestion, losses, recovery, elimination, trace elements, differential pulse polarography