A MECHANIZED CONTINUOUS-FLOW SYSTEM FOR THE CONCENTRATION AND DETERMINATION OF CO, CU, NI, PB, CD AND FE IN SEAWATER USING GRAPHITE-FURNACE ATOMIC-ABSORPTION

A mechanized system for the determination of heavy metals in seawater is described and evaluated by analysing six heavy metals in a seawater reference material (NASS-2). The system consists of a continuous-flow two-step extraction manifold connected on-line with a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The sample throughput is 30 samples h-1. The sample is preconcentrated 50-60 times in the system (optionally 100 times) and the seawater matrix is separated from the analytes. The results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values for Co, Cu, Ni and Pb, but were slightly high for Cd and Fe. © 1990.