DIRECT DETERMINATION OF METALS IN SOLID SAMPLES BY GRAPHITE-FURNACE ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY - DOES SAMPLE MASS INFLUENCE THE ANALYTICAL RESULTS

In our previous experience on the determination of metals by direct an alysis of the solid sample using graphite-furnace atomic absorption sp ectrometry, it was found that the use of too large or too small mass o f sample may lead to erroneous results, even if the analyte content li es within the linear dynamic range. Few references, however, can be fo und in the literature dealing with this problem. The ANOVA performed o n a total of 293 measurements of copper in a Vitamin complex, proves t hat sample masses smaller than 0.3 mg or larger than 1.1 mg give overe stimated and underestimated results, respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.