Molybdenum, Mo–Ir and Mo–Ru coatings as permanent chemical modifiers for the determination of cadmium and lead in sediments and soil samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry Original Research Article

Molybdenum, Ir, Ru, Mo–Ir, Mo–Ru thermally coated on to platforms inserted in pyrolytic graphite tubes as permanent modifiers and Pd + Mg(NO3)2 conventional modifier mixture have been employed for the determination of cadmium and lead in dissolved sediments and soil samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Optimum masses and mass ratios of permanent modifiers for the analysis of Cd and Pb in sample solutions have been investigated. The 280 μg of Mo, 200 μg of Ir, 200 μg of Ru, 280 μg of Mo + 200 μg of Ir or 280 μg of Mo + 200 μg of Ru has been found as efficient as 5 μg of Pd + 3 μg of Mg(NO3)2 for increasing thermal stabilization of analytes and for decreasing the most serious interferences. Pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, atomization and background signal shapes, characteristic masses and detection limits of analytes in dissolved samples with or without permanent and conventional modifiers have been compared. The detection limits and characteristic masses obtained with Mo–Ir coated platform are 0.01 μg g−1 and 1.1 pg for Cd and 0.09 μg g−1 and 19 pg for Pb, respectively. Long-term stabilities for analytes in samples with Mo, Mo–Ir, Mo–Ru and Pd + Mg(NO3)2 have been studied. Cadmium and lead contents have been determined in certified and standard reference materials by using optimum conditions investigated and the results obtained with Mo–Ir or Mo–Ru were in agreement with the values of certified reference materials.