title: An investigation of a flameless atomic-absorption method for determination of aluminium, calcium, iron and magnesium in sewage sludge.
abstract: The methods currently used for the determination of aluminium, calcium, iron and magnesium in sewage sludge are time-consuming. A rapid flameless atomic-absorption procedure, utilizing homogenization of diluted samples as the only pretreatment, has been compared with wet and dry analytical methods followed by flame atomic-absorption analysis, in a statistically designed experiment. Low-sensitivity (secondary absorption) lines have been used for the flameless analysis. The flameless atomic-absorption method described is better than all the other methods tested, with the exception of the nitric-perchloric-hydrofluoric acid digestion procedure. The time saved is substantial and the method could be used advantageously for routine analysis.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Engineering Laboratory, Imperial College, London, U.K.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carrondo
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perry