Determination of molybdenum, chromium and aluminium in human urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using fast-programme methodology

Rapid and direct procedures for the determination of molybdenum, chromium a nd aluminium in human urine samples are developed. Fast-programme methodolo gy is used to simplify the heating cycles. Hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid a nd Triton X-100 are added to the urine samples which are directly introduce d into the furnace. For molybdenum, two successive injection steps are requ ired due to the low level of this element in the samples analyzed. Calibrat ion is carried out using aqueous standards for aluminium and the standard a dditions method for both molybdenum and chromium. The reliability of the pr ocedures is checked by analyzing two certified reference materials. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.