Determination of Cd, Pb, and Zn in sediment reference materials by AAS after alkaline fusion dissolution with lithium tetraborate

A fast, inexpensive, and reliable procedure for the quantitative dissolutio n of sediment materials by alkaline fusion and the subsequent analysis by a tomic absorption spectrometric techniques is proposed. The method involves the use of lithium tetraborate as the fluxing agent, which led to thermal s tabilization of volatile (Cd, Pb) and semivolatile (Zn) elements during the high-temperature fusion procedure (similar to 1000 degrees C). Alkaline fu sion was performed in graphite crucibles, instead of out of platinum, thus lowering the analysis costs. The accuracy of the methodology was checked by the analysis of the NIST standard reference materials Buffalo River Sedime nt (SRM 2704) and River Sediment (SRM 1645), and IAEA Trace Elements in Lak e Sediment (SL-1).