1994 Volume 43 Issue 7 Pages 557-561
A method was optimized to enhance the sensitivity of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of beryllium in biological materials. Magnesium nitrate was added to the acid-digested sample solution, and a low-noise photomultiplier was utilized. The amplifier was operated at 10 times the ordinary amplification. Best results were obtained with a magnesium concentration of 10-3 M when 50 μl of the solution was injected and ashed at 1250°C for 30 s. Under these conditions, the matrix alkali salts are diminished to such an extent that background correction can be readily made, without impairing the beryllium sensitivity. The detection limit is 0.005 ppb (Be 0.25 pg). By this method a beryllium content of 0.50 ng/g (SD 0.04, n=12) was found in NIST Bovine Liver (SMR 1577).
