Metal speciation of environmental samples using SPE and SFC-AED analysis

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 UTC 1995

OSTI ID:214745

Mitchell, S C; Burford, M D; Robson, M ^[1]

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1. Leeds Univ. (United Kingdom); and others

Due to growing public concern over heavy metals in the environment, soil, water and air particulate samples azre now routinely screened for their metal content. Conventional metal analysis typically involves acid digestion extraction and results in the generation of large aqueous and organic solvent waste. This harsh extraction process is usually used to obtain the total metal content of the sample, the extract being analysed by atomic emission or absorption spectroscoply techniques. A more selective method of metal extraction has been investigated which uses a supercritical fluid modified with a complexing agent. The relatively mild extraction method enables both organometallic and inorganic metal species to be recovered intact. The various components from the supercritical fluid extract can be chromatographically separated using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and positive identification of the metals achieved using atomic emission detection (AED). The aim of the study is to develop an analytical extraction procedure which enables a rapid, sensitive and quantitative analysis of metals in environmental samples, using just one extraction (eg SFE) and one analysis (eg SFC-AED) procedure.

• OSTI ID: 214745
• Report Number(s): CONF-950801--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
METALS
POLLUTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY