Determination of elements in biological and botanical materials by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass spectrometry after extraction with a tertiary amine reagent

A simple inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass spectrometric (ICP-AES and ICP-MS) analysis procedure for biological and botanical materials was developed based on,an extraction with a:commercial, water-soluble tertiary amine solution, standard reference materials were dispersed in a 10% v/v amine mixture at pH 8 and the resulting dispersion was agitated for 30 min at room temperature. After centrifugation, Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, K and Zn were determined by ICP-AES and As, Ba; Ca,: Cu, Pb, Mn, Mo, Rb, Se, Cr and Zn were determined by ICP-MS in the supernatant, Recoveries of nearly all elements in most samples were close to 100%, and no significant difference at a 95% confidence level was found between determined and certified values. Low recoveries were-observed for Al-and Fe in all materials and for Ca in spinach and apple leaves. The simple procedure is useful for screening purposes in the analysis of biological and botanical materials.