ICP slurry introduction for simple and rapid determination of Pb, Mg and Ca in plant roots

Pb, Mg and Ca were simultaneously determined in plant roots by slurry introduction into inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (SS-ICP-OES). Slurries were prepared in 0.5% or 5% (v/v) HNO3 with 0.5, or 5% (v/v) Triton X-100. Omission of the Triton X-100 improved results. Compared with wet ashing of the root sample followed by ICP-OES, ICP-MS and FAAS, the method offers: comparable results, simplification of sample preparation, less sample contamination, and reduction in the use of dangerous and corrosive reagents. The precisions varied: 1.7% for Mg, 2.8% for Ca and 4.3% for Pb, and were not significantly different (95% confidence level) from those of conventional analysis. (c) Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. All rights reserved.