Affiliation: | (1) Babes-Bolyai University, Department of Chemistry, Arany Janos 11, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, RO;(2) Babes-Bolyai University, Department of Physics, M. Kogalniceanu 1, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, RO |
Abstract: | This paper presents a statistical comparison of Cu, Mn and Zn determinations in biological samples by low power radiofrequency capacitively coupled Ar plasma (275W; 27.12MHz; 0.4Lmin–1 flow rate) atomic emission spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry using statistical analysis according to the Bland and Altman test and linear regression. For a content (µgg–1 dry mass) of 5-43 Cu, 10-15800 Mn and 8-1100 Zn in fish fillet and freshwater molluscs, there was no significant bias in r.f.CCP-AES for a 95% confidence level. Certified reference materials were analysed by r.f.CCP-AES, and a good agreement between analysis results and certified values was obtained. Matrix effects of Ca and Na and their influence on the detection limits of Cu, Mn and Zn are presented for both methods. As compared to FAAS, r.f.CCP-AES is more prone to interferences and, consequently, the detection limits for Cu, Mn and Zn in biological samples (2; 2 and 3µgg–1 dry mass) are higher than those in FAAS. In spite of these problems, r.f.CCP-AES is capable of accurate and precise analyses of biological samples. |