Derivative hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry and determination of lead traces in waters

Fundamentals of derivative hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry (DHGAAS) are described. A linear relationship was obtained between the derivative absorbance and the concentration of analysis in a sample. The new DHGAAS method was applied to the determination of traces of lead in water. The conditions affecting the derivative absorbance of lead were evaluated and optimized. The detection limit and sensitivity of the proposed method were 26 times and 8.8 times better, respectively, than those of conventional hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry. The characteristic concentration (for a derivative absorbance of 0.0044) and detection limit (3σ) for lead were 0.017 and 0.096 ng mL–1, respectively, for a 2 mV min–1 sensitivity range setting. The recovery range was 92.5–103%.