Abstract
A precise and sensitive method was examined for the determination of beryllium in environmental sediments by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The ground sample was digested with HF/HNO3/HClO4, then beryllium was determined by standard addition method. Both use of a pyrolytic graphite-coated tube and addition of matrix modifier (0.4% aluminium nitrate) were effective in increasing sensitivity and precision. Constant absorbance was obtained in the charring temperature ranging from 1,200 to 1,700 °C.
Analytical results of beryllium obtained by proposed method showed in good agreement with the certified values for the environmental (sediments, rocks) reference materials.
In the presence of fluoride, the determination of beryllium by proposed method was seriously affected.
Beryllium concentrations in river, lake and marine sediments from Kanagawa prefecture, which obtained by digestion with HNO3/HCl/HClO4, were found in the range from 0.131 to 0.847μg·g-1 (average 0.404μg·g-1). These values were 17-71% lower values than the case of digested with HF/HNO3/HClO4.
The detection limit of the proposed metohds was 0.0013μg·g-1 for 0.5g of sediment.
