DETERMINATION OF ALUMINUM IN HIGH-FAT CONTENT BIOLOGICAL-MATERIALS USING EMULSIONS AND DIRECT-CURRENT PLASMA

A new sample dissolution method employing an emulsion has been develop ed and evaluated for the determination of aluminum (Al) in high fat co ntent biological samples. An emulsion is used to disperse the residual fat left over from nitric acid digestion to form a stable homogeneous moiety before aspiration into the direct current plasma (DCP) source. The method eliminates the need to filter the fat or extract fat solub le Al species from the undigested fat before analysis. Comparisons wer e made between the present method and two conventional sample dissolut ion methods for the determination of Al present in spiked and certifie d biological samples. The results indicated that the emulsification pr ocedure offers simplicity, speed and improved accuracy/precision for t he DCP determination of Al, especially for biological materials contai ning high amounts of fat and fat soluble Al complex(es).