Metal and Molecular Vapor Separation Analysis for Direct Determination of Mn and Cu by Atomic Absorption Detection, Free of Background Absorption

The metal and molecular vapor separation analysis (MMVSA) of solid samples with an atomic absorption detector (AA) was investigated for the direct determination of manganese and copper in biological materials. An open column made with a molybdenum tube (i.d. 1.22 mm) with three-ring supporters was developed. Pure argon as a carrier gas flowed at a flow rate of 4.0 mL min−1. An ultrasonic agitation method was used for suspending NIST standard reference material powders in water. Manganese and copper in the biological powders were completely separated from Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and Zn elements by MMVSA under optimal experimental conditions. Several NIST biological samples were directly analyzed with satisfactory results. It was found that manganese and copper in biological materials without interferences from matrix elements could be directly determined after only an ultrasonic agitation of the biological powders. The advantages of the slurry sampling of MMVSA are simplicity, low cost, a high speed of analysis, and rapid calibration.