Determination of heavy metals and their speciation in waters and bottom sediments of water reservoirs using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in combi nation with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and autoclave sam ple preparation essentially improved performance characteristics of the det ermination of heavy metals and simplified analytical procedures for determi ning their speciation. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrome try can give information about the concentrations of a wide range of elemen ts in water and bottom deposits at a level of MPC and, thus, is useful for revealing sources of pollution of water reservoirs. More sensitive electrot hermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used for determining background c oncentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Mo, and As and assessing the speci ation of Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn in waters and bottom sediments. Based on th e results of analyses of surface, bottom, and void waters; bottom sediments and their step-by-step extracts; and KMC and DEAE cellulose adsorbents con taining charge-separated heavy metals, the ecological status of Kuibyshev, Ivan'kovo, and Rybinsk water reservoirs was assessed.