The determination of total lead in soil by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of total lead in soil by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The sample is digested with hot nitric acid. The dry residue is taken up in hydrochloric acid and excess iron is removed by extraction with acetylacetone‐chloroform. Lead is then extracted using the system DDC‐MIBK. The organic phase can be sprayed directly into the flame. The method is not affected by elements occurring in contaminated soils. Iron is removed because a slow‐forming precipitate of the Fe‐DDC‐complex blocks the nebuliser system. The method is an improvement on other methods because no sulfuric acid is used for digestion, and therefore losses of lead by precipitation or occlusion are avoided. Tests confirm that the recommended method gives complete recovery of lead. Lead can be determined in the range from 4 to 240 ppm in the soil. A standard soil sample has been analyzed, yielding a mean value of 125 μg Pb/g soil with a relative standard deviation of 2.4%.