Determination of Cadmium, Chromium and Lead in Polymers by ICP-OES Using a High Pressure Asher (HPA)

The proposed method for an effective assay of Cd, Cr and Pb in several polymer samples has been validated. The determination was carried out using ICP-OES after a high pressure asher (HPA) digestion at pressure and temperatures up to 13 MPa and 320 degrees C, respectively. Polymer based materials were totally oxidized with nitric acid in a HPA chamber and determined by ICP-OES. Validation parameters such as linearity, matrix effect, limit of dectection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy and precision (repeatibility, intermediate precision and reproducibility) were assessed. The LOD and LOQ in the sample were ranged from 0.98 to 1.18 mg kg(-1) and 2.93 to 3.55 mg kg(-1) respectively, relying on the analyte. The proposed method had a good accuracy and precision for repeatability, intermediate precision with respect to days and analysts and reproducibility expressed as inter-laboratory study. The developed method was simple to use, suitable and applicable to various kinds of polymers.