Determination of trace levels of aluminium in biological materials (fish) by graphite-furnace AAS

A method for the determination of trace levels of Al in biological material s (fish) by graphite-furnace AAS was studied. Samples were digested with HN O3, since HClO4 gave great interferences to the determination of Al. The an alytical wavelength was selected at 394.4 nm, and the ashing and atomizing temperatures were fixed at 1500 degrees C and 2600 degrees C, respectively. Interferences of coexisting inorganic components (Ca, Na, K, Mg, Fe and P) were also studied. The torelable concentrations for respective components were as follows: Ca 500 mg dm(-3), Na 50 mg dm(-3), K 50 mg dm(-3), MR 100 mg dm(-3), Fe 20 mg dm(-3) and P 200 mg dm(-3). Prior to the Al analysis, s amples should be diluted with water in order that the concentration of each inorganic component be lower than that mentioned above. In all standard an d sample solutions the concentration of HNOs were maintained in 0.1% (v/v). The Al concentrations in biological reference materials (NRCC DORM-2 and D OLT-2) determined by the present method agreed well with the reported refer ence values. The detection limit (3 sigma) was 1 ng g(-1) (dry weight of bi ological samples). The present method is applicable with high accuracy and sensitivity to the determination of Al in biological samples.