Technical aspects of quantification of aluminum

Aluminum has been implicated as a contributing factor to dialysis encephalopathy syndrome (DES) and osteomalacic osteodystrophy. Monitoring of its level together with i-PTH, desferoxamine infusion test, or bone biopsy gives the degree of intoxication. Specimens for aluminum must be collected in containers washed in nitric acid or disodium EDTA to avoid contamination. Determination is made with flameless atomic absorption spectrometry or neutron activation. Various experimental conditions for the former together with discussion on their merits and shortcomings are given. Included are protein precipitation, matrix modification, background correction, and sampling technique.