SEDL / STP / STP1162-EB / STP23876S

Determination of Lead and Cadmium in Soils, Sludges, and Fertilizers by an Ion- Exchange/Spectrophotometric Method

Heinzig, M
Research chemist, Hach Ames Chemical Research, Hach Company, Ames, IA

DeYong, GD
Research chemist, Hach Ames Chemical Research, Hach Company, Ames, IA

Bowden, BK
Manager of chemical research, Hach Ames Chemical Research, Hach Company, Ames, IA

Brayton, SV
Senior research chemist, Hach Corporate Research, Hach Company, Ames, IA

Anglin, RJ
Research chemist, Hach Ames Chemical Research, Hach Company, Ames, IA

Pages: 7    Published: Jan 1993

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Abstract

The MetalTrace method, which consists of an anion-exchange separation coupled with a spectrophotometric quantification, was used to determine lead and cadmium in sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide digests of soils and sludges and hydrobromic acid extracts of soils. Cadmium only was determined in sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide digests of fertilizers because no standards were available with certified lead contents. The selectivity provided by the anion-exchange separation allowed the use of a spectrophotometric indicator with an extremely high extinction coefficient so that detection limits in the low parts per million range could be attained. The results obtained using this method compared favorably with those obtained using much more expensive methods requiring more specialized training and equipment.