Microwave and Wet Digestion Procedures for Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Trace Metals Contents of Sediment Samples

Abstract

The comparison of wet digestion and microwave digestion of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, Fe, and Ni contents of the river bottom and sea floor sediments from the various locations of Turkey was performed in the present work. After digestions, the heavy metal concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The heating programs for microwave digestion, different combinations, and volumes of acid mixtures were evaluated for microwave digestion efficiency. The studies in the present work show that the microwave‐assisted digestions in closed system are easier and faster than the wet digestion. Also the results found by the microwave and the wet digestions were reliable and accurate. The procedures were also checked with two‐stream sediment reference material (GBW 07309 and GBW 07310). Results for standard reference material (SRM) were in good agreement with certified values. The relative standard deviations for all metal concentrations were found to be lower than 10%.

Keywords:

• Microwave digestion
• Wet digestion
• Sediment
• FAAS

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support of the Unit of the Scientific Research Projects of Gaziosmanpasa University and the Unit of the Scientific Research Projects of Erciyes University. The authors also would like to thank the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for financial helps (TBAG 2163).