NEMI Method Summary

Method Summary Information

Method Number: I-3900 Media: WATER
Revision: 1985
Method Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Subcategory: INORGANIC Analytes in this method
Official Name: Zinc, atomic absorption spectrometric, direct
Descriptive Name Zinc, total recoverable, atomic absorption spectrometric
Source Info: USGS Branch of Information Services
Box 25286, MS 417
Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0286
Phone: 303-202-4700
Citation: USGS Methods, Volume A1
122203 Byte file
Brief Method
Summary:
 Zinc is determined by atomic absorption spectrometry by direct aspiration of the sample into an air-acetylene flame. The procedure may be automated by the addition of a sampler and either a strip-chart recorder or a printer or both.
Scope And
Application:
 This method may be used to analyze water-suspended sediment containing from 10 to 500 ug/L of zinc. Sample solutions containing more than 500 ug/L need to be diluted or to be read on a less expanded scale. Total recoverable zinc in water-suspended sediment needs to undergo preliminary digestion-solubilization by method I-3485.
Applicable
Conc Range:
 10 to 500 ug/L
Interferences: Magnesium at concentrations greater than 100 mg/L interferes unless other cations, such as sodium, are present in the sample.
Individual concentrations of sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride (9,000 mg/L of each), calcium (4,500 mg/L), nitrate (2,000 mg/L), iron (4 X 106 ug/L), and cadmium, nickel, copper, lead, cobalt, and chromium (10,000 ug/L each) do not interfere. Greater concentrations of each constituent were not investigated.
Samples containing 100 mg/L of silica cause no interference; however, zinc recovery is approx. 10 percent low in samples containing 200 mg/L of silica.
QC Requirements: Calibrate instrument using calibration standards (CAL); quality control samples (QCS); and laboratory blanks (LB) analyzed at a minimum of 1 for every 10 samples.
Sample Handling: Container Description: 250 mL polyethylene bottle, nitric acid rinsed
Treatment and handling: Use unfiltered sample to rinse container, acidify sample with nitric acid to pH <2
Max Holding Time:
 180 days
Sample Prep Met I-3485
Relative Cost: Less than $50
5500
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