Direct electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry determination of nickel in sea water using multiple hot injection and Zeeman correction

Methods for the direct determination of Ni in sea water samples by ETAAS were developed using Zeeman effect background correction system (ZEBC) and a multi-injection technique. A mass of palladium nitrate of 2.5 mug (for an injection volume of 100 mul) was used as chemical modifier. The optimum pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1700 and 2100 degrees C, respectively. The characteristic mass (m(0)) and characteristic concentration (C(0)), precision and accuracy were studied for different injection volumes (20, 100 and 200 mul). For an injection volume of 100 mul (five 20 mul aliquot) of sample the accuracy analysis of different certified materials (saline and non saline water) was agreeable. The total time of the proposed procedure is 6 min. A m(0) and C(0) of 34.5 pg and 0.3 mug l(-1), respectively were obtained for this injection volume (100 mul). Finally, interferences from major and minor components of sea water was studied.