Direct Salt-Matrix Correction Method for Quick Monitoring of Trace Metal Pollution in Seawater Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The direct use of atomic absorption spectrometey 15 unlikely to detect any trace metal in seawater at its natural concentration , but 15 of great value for the environ - mental and aquatic workers to monitor water quality in respect of trace metal pollution . In the operation, the strong interferring signals produced by the seawater were compensated using a salt-matrix correction procedure. Direct absorption readings were subtracted from a trace metal removed salt background to give net absorbances. With the detectable ranges the concentrations of trace metals were estimated using standard addition technique. Artificial seawater can be used as the salt-matrix medium if salinity of the sample 15 known to be similar. The proposed salt-matrix correction method has been proved quick and efficient in a field study of examining the trace metal pollution in coastal seawaters near Keelung Harbour.直接使用火熖原子吸光儀雖然很難測到自然海水中的重金屬，但可以用來監視水中重金屬污染程度。海水中的鹽類在直接測定時會造成嚴重的干擾，故直接的原子吸光測值必須經過背景校正。若海水鹽度已知在30‰S與35‰S之間則背景校正直接可由人工海水求得。此種快速的校正測定方法對環境保護以及養殖工作極有助益，調查者可在最短時間內判斷水質遭受重金屬污染的程度。