Application of the combustion method in a closed flask to the lead determination in atmospheric aerosols

The destruction of the filter for metal determination in atmospheric aerosols is an important step in the analysis. Nowadays the decomposition of this kind of sample has not been completely solved, so it is interesting to study new methods for filter sample attack. In the present work the application of the combustion method in a closed flask for mixed cellulose esters filter decomposition for lead determination is proposed. For this purpose optimum operating conditions as stopper flask design, sample size, flask volume, shaking time and volume and concentration of absorbing solution are established, and accuracy and precision of the proposed method using AAS for the measurements is given. The results obtained by the closed flask combustion are compared with those found by wet attack with HNO3. The method proposed is rapid, has low reagent contamination and no loss of lead by volatilization or by amalgamation occurs. This method shows an accuracy and a precision in good agreement with the standard method.