Optimization of high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for direct analysis of selected trace elements in whole blood samples.
Trace analysis plays an important role in medicine for diagnosis of various disorders; however, the appropriate sample preparation is required mostly including mineralization. Although graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) allows the investigation of biological samples such as blood, serum, and plasma without this step, it is rarely used for direct analysis because the residues of the rich organic matrix inside the furnace are difficult to remove and this may cause spectral/matrix interferences and decrease the lifetime of the graphite tube. In our work, the procedure for determination of Se, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cd and Pb with the use of the high resolution continuum source GF-AAS technique in whole blood samples with minimum sample pre-treatment was elaborated. The pyrolysis and atomization temperature as well as the time of signal integration were optimized to obtain the highest intensity and repeatability of the analytical signal. Moreover, due to the apparatus modification, an additional step was added in the for graphite furnace temperature program with minimal argon flow and maximal flow of air during pyrolysis stage to increase the oxidative condition for better matrix removal. The accuracy and precision of the optimized method was verified using certified reference material (CRM) Seronorm Trace Elements Whole Blood L-1 and the developed method was applied for trace analysis of blood samples from volunteer patients of the Orthopedics Department.
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Wójciak-Kosior
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Szwerc
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Maciej
M
Strzemski
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Zoltan
Z
Wichłacz
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Jan
J
Sawicki
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Ryszard
R
Kocjan
Children's Orthopedics Department, Medical University of Lublin, Gębali 6, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Michał
M
Latalski
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: i.sowa@umlub.pl.
Ireneusz
I
Sowa
D002138:Calibration; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
D014131:Trace Elements; D006108:Graphite
High resolution continuum source GF-AAS; Trace element analysis; Whole blood