Graphite "Filter Furnace" Atomizer with Pd-Mg Chemical Modifier for Direct Analysis of Foods Using Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This paper presents the results of optimization of operation parameters, investigation of analytical characteristics, and the capabilities of a graphite "filter furnaceE (R) (FF) atomizer with a Pd-Mg chemical modifier (CM) for the direct determination of trace amounts of Pb, As, and Cd in foods by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS). The effects of heating parameters of the furnace on atomic absorbance values of Pb, As, and Cd were investigated during the pyrolysis and atomization steps including the carrying out of the investigation in the presence of mineral and organic macrocomponents of the analyzed materials. It is shown that the use of the graphite FF atomizer and Pd-Mg CM provides a similar to 2-fold increase in sensitivity of ET AAS determination of the listed elements in comparison with a conventional heated graphite furnace with a platform as well as completely or significantly eliminate matrix effects including background absorbance. The obtained limits of quantification for Pb, As, and Cd in foods were 0.0015, 0.002, and 0.0001 mg kg(-1), respectively. The reliability of the proposed method was checked using standard methods.