engleski

Analysis of metals and metalloids in environmental samples

Quantification of so-called major and trace elements, i.e. metals and metalloids, in samples from environment usually requires a use of instrumental analytical techniques that are sensitive enough to determine the analytes in such samples or their digestates. Generally, under the phrase ‘samples from environment’ water, soil and plant samples are considered. Also, it is well known that analysis of metals and metalloids is of a great interest of researchers of various science branches worldwide, because the roles that such chemical elements (can) have in the context of a food chain and, consequently, human's health. A procedure of analysis of the analytes in question generally consists of the steps as follows: (1) sample collection, (2) storage, (3) sample preparation for measurement, (4) quantification of the selected analytes (‘measurement’), (5) calculation and expression of the results, and (6) interpretation of the results (Fig. 1). It is essential to mention that only accurate and appropriate approach to each of these steps leads to accurate and precise results that reflect the analysed properties of a material. Thus, a procedure of collecting of samples should be designed in such a manner to preserve that an aliquot reflects the properties of the population. Then, the samples should be appropriately handled and stored in order to avoid contamination or possible losses of the analytes [2]. Preparation of water samples often implies filtration, sometimes also dilution. On the other hand, solid samples (soils, sediments, biological material) usually should undergo decomposition with aim of the transferring of the analytes into state of water solution ; that is because the analytical techniques that are dominantly in use nowadays measure metals and metalloids in solution. So a selection of a solubilization method (reagent and conditions) is an important step that is related to the samples characteristics but also to the research goals [1, 2-4]. The last part of a laboratory work in such a research is a quantification of the analytes, and in this context various atomic spectrometric techniques are widespread in use (e.g. ICP-AES(OES), ICPMS). In the presentation a brief overview of the dominant practice as well as a discussion of challenging aspects and requirements of a procedure were given.

soil ; water ; trace elements ; sample preparation ; spectroscopical techniques

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