engleski

Determination of metal composition in particulate matter using ICPMS

Airborne particles are important carriers of metals, some of which are toxic. The content of particulate matter can provide important information about atmospheric pollution and further evaluation of the potential health risk to the population. The aim of our work was to establish a method for determination of trace and major elements in particulate matter collected on cellulose filter paper and analysed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A high pressure microwave digestion method was validated by loading filter blanks with Standard Reference Material Urban Dust provided by NIST (NIST 1648a). After complete digestion, solutions were analysed on ICPMS, and Sc, Ge, and Rh were used as internal standards. The results show that the method can be used for the analysis of 17 metals (Al, Ag, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn). Very poor recovery rates (< 50%) were measured for chromium. The method was also not suitable for determining sodium, because of high levels found in filter blanks. The article continues by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using this filter medium.

atmospheric pollution; mass spectrometry; microwave digestion

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