Atomic absorption/atomic fluorescence determination of trace elements in natural water using a concentrating microcolumn atomizer

A new highly sensitive atomic absorption/atomic fluorescence method for det ermining Ag, Bi, Cd, Pb, and Tl(III) in natural water was proposed. The met hod involves the dynamic preconcentration of the metals directly in a micro column crucible. The crucible serves as an independently heated unit of an electrothermal atomizer and as a microcolumn for the dynamic preconcentrati on the metals on DETATA adsorbents. The detection limits of metals in water s range from 0.3 to 1.0 ng/L for Ag and Cd and from 2 to 10 ng/L for Bi, Ph , and Tl. The accuracy of determining ultratrace amounts of metals in river and sea waters and in atmospheric precipitates was confirmed by the added- found method and in the analyses of samples by an independent method.