COMBINATION OF 3 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR SPECIATION OF AL IN ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES

An analytical scheme is proposed which combines three speciation techn iques for determination of particular Al species in soil extracts and percolating waters. A cation-exchange fast protein liquid chromatograp hy - inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (FPLC-ICP -AES) procedure, a microcolumn chelating ion-exchange chromatography - atomic absorption spectrometry (MCC-ETAAS) technique and the 8-hydrox yquinoline spectrophotometric method (8HQ-spectrophotometry) were empl oyed. The FPLC-ICP-AES procedure offers determination of Al3+ (retenti on time 4.5 min) and Al(OH)(2+) species (retention time 4.0 min) which are separated from Al(OH)(2)(+) (retention time 1.5 min). AlF2+ coelu tes with Al(OH)(2+) species, while Al(SO4)(+), AlF2+ and negatively ch arged Al organic complexes coelute with Al(OH)(2)(+) species. The MCC- ETAAS technique enables determination of the sum of positively charged monomeric aqua-and hydroxy-Al species plus sulphato-and fluoro-Al com plexes. Employing the 8HQ-spectrophotometry the sum of positively char ged monomeric aqua-and hydroxy-Al species plus sulphato-and most of th e labile organic Al species are determined. The sensitivities of these selected techniques were adequate for speciation of Al in the samples analyzed. On the basis of the specific selectivity of a particular te chnique various groups of Al species may be determined. Thus, the comp arison of analytical data from complementary procedures provides more comprehensive information on Al species present in soil extracts and p ercolating waters.