DETERMINATION OF TOTAL AND NONPROTEIN BOUND ALUMINUM SPECIES IN URINEEMPLOYING ION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY AND NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

A radioanalytical separation employing neutron activation analysis was developed for the speciation of nonprotein Al metabolites in human ur ine. The developed procedure also permitted the estimation of the amou nt of protein-bound Al. Four, consecutive twenty four hour urine speci mens were collected and analyzed separately. An aluminum-containing an tacid was ingested in three equal doses during the third collection pe riod. Proteins were removed from the matrix by precipitation. The Al3 ions were then selectively separated by cation exchange chromatograph y and assayed by neutron activation analysis. Recoveries were determin ed for the entire procedure and found to be 92+/-4%. The majority of A l in urine was found to be protein bound (>88%) with minor fractions b ound to low molecular weight ligands such as citrate.