Determination of lead and cadmium by atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with slurry sampling of carbonized samples: Use of palladium-bearing activated carbon as a matrix modifier

The determination of Ph and Cd by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy with the slurry sampling of carbonized samples into a graphite furnace was considered. Textural and chemical properties of new palladium-carbon modifiers based on activated carbon and carbonized nutshell were studied by high-resolution electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the adsorption of liquid nitrogen. Advantages of activated carbon as a modifier support were substantiated. Pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were selected for determining elements using matrix modifiers. The developed analytical procedure was tested with reference samples of plant materials. The results obtained agreed well with the certified analyte concentrations. The RSD values were no higher than 8% for lead and cadmium in the ranges 0.3-3.3 and 0.110-1.34 mg/kg, respectively.