[Determintion of trace lead in the traditional Chinese medicine using hydride generation atomic fluorescence...

A hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of trace lead in traditional Chinese medicines. A high pressure digestion using HNO3-H2O2 system was applied for the pretreatment of traditional Chinese medicine samples and the interval flow precedure was used. The experimental conditions and instrumental operating parameters such as KBH4 concentration, flow rates of carrier and shield gases, current of the lamp and height of the atomizer, have been optimized. Under the optimum conditions the detection limit is 0.08 microg x L(-1). The relative standard deviation is 0.34%. This method is simple, rapid and sensitive, so it can be successfully used for the determination of lead in traditional Chinese medicines.