Effectiveness of palladium as a chemical modifier for the determination of lead in biological materials and foodstuffs by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary A combination of 6 g palladium and 15 g magnesium nitrate is proposed as chemical modifier for lead determinations in biological materials and foodstuffs. The applicability of this modifier was investigated by the analysis of several types of samples, as compared to the classical NH₄H₂PO₄ and Mg(NO₃)₂ modifier. Direct determinations of lead against aqueous standard solutions can be performed in 3-fold diluted urine, 2-fold diluted milk and 6-fold diluted blood, when the proposed modifier is added. A method for lead determinations in potatoes using the combined palladium and magnesium nitrate modifier, after a microwave acid digestion, is described. The optimum GFAAS pyrolysis temperature remains dependent on the matrix and should be determined for each type of sample. A wider linear range of the calibration curve is observed when the proposed Pd modifier is used.