Rapid determination of lead and cadmium in sewage sludge samples using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sample introduction

Lead and cadmium concentrations in sewage sludge samples are determined by suspending the ground samples in a solution containing 10% (v/v) concentrated hydrofluoric acid, 1% (v/v) concentrated nitric acid, 0.5% (m/v) dihydrogen ammonium phosphate and 0.1% (m/v) sodium hexametaphosphate. Aliquots of 20 μL of these suspensions (4 mg/mL) are diluted to 1000 μL with the same solution and then injected into the electrothermal atomizer. The drying stage is performed by programming a 400?°C temperature, a ramp time of 20 s and a hold time of 15 s on the power supply of the atomizer. No ashing step is used. Platform atomization is carried out at 1600 and 1800?°C for Pb and Cd, respectively. Calibration is performed using aqueous standards in the 5–75 and 0.2– 5 μg/L Pb and Cd ranges, respectively. Results obtained for three certified reference materials and four samples demonstrate the reliability of the procedures described.