The study proposes a simple and fast extraction-based procedure for the determination of trace elements in estuarine sediment samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
A few advantages of Fiber grating sensors, besides their regular features, over AAS have also been discussed, that make our sensors potential alternatives for existing techniques in determination of trace elements in drinking water.
Accuracy in quantitative determination of trace elements like Zinc, present in drinking water in ppm level, is a big challenge and optical fiber gratings as chemical sensors may provide a promising solution to overcome the same.
A systematic evaluation of different variables affecting the enzymatic hydrolysis of mussel soft tissue by five enzymes, three proteases (pepsin, pancreatin and trypsin), lipase and amylase, has been carried out for the determination of trace elements (As, Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
For the determination of trace elements, tube conditions and counting times were optimized automatically up to 4 kW and 400 s per element, to obtain a detection limit of ~3 ppm (3σ).
The issue regarding the determination of trace elements in airborne particulate have a preeminent position due to the presence of some toxic elements (e.g., Cd, Hg and Pb): further, the airborne particulate matter enters into the climate global change problem, giving place to increasing global levels that may affect widely the biological systems.
In summary, quantitative determination of trace elements in biological tissues using LA-ICP-MS is still a challenging task, requiring extensive knowledge of sample composition and properties.
