Fast determination of lead in lake sediment samples using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry samples introduction

Lead concentration in lake sediment samples has been determined by means of ultrasonic slurry sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry USSS-ETAAS. The soil samples were suspended (0.025–0.15% w/v slurry) in four different liquid media containing 0.5% (v/v) nitric acid, 5% (v/v) nitric acid, 0.5% nitric acid+Triton X-100 and 5% nitric acid+Triton X-100. The effects of the instrumental operating conditions and slurry preparation on the signal were examined. Palladium and magnesium were used as modifiers to improve the signal quality. The procedure was validated by analysis of the certified reference lake sediment material LKSD-1, LKSD-2, LKSD-3 and LKSD-4. All analytical recoveries for lead in slurried lake sediment samples were satisfactory and varied from 95 to 104%. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values were 4.8, 4.7, 4.5 and 5.5. The detection limits LODs of lead were 0.52, 0.45, 0.35, and 0.22 μg g−1 for mass of sample 0.025, 0.050, 0.10 and 0.15 U, respectively.