Determination of trace amounts of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in natural waters by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with thermospray nebulisation, after enrichment on Chelex-100

Enrichment on Chelex-100, followed by evaporation when necessary, was used for the pre-concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn from natural waters. The measurements were carried out with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using a thermospray nebulisation system to reach the required sensitivity. The detection limits corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank (in 1% v/v HNO3) after a 30-fold enrichment are 0.02 microgram l-1 for Cd, 0.33 microgram l-1 for Pb and 0.03 microgram l-1 for Cu and Zn. Matrix effects, which are fairly serious with thermospray nebulisation, were taken into account by using the standard additions method. Results obtained for several river water samples were compared with those found by analysis of the non-enriched sample with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In all instances the agreement was satisfactory.