Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as a routine method for the quantification of beryllium in blood and serum


A routine method for the quantification of beryllium in biological fluids is essential for the development of a chelation therapy for Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). We describe a procedure for the direct determination of beryllium in undigested micro quantities of human blood and serum using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Blood and serum samples are prepared respectively by a simple 8-fold and 5-fold dilution with a Nash Reagent. Three experimental setups are compared: using no modifier, using magnesium nitrate and using palladium/citric acid as chemical modifiers.

Results: In serum, both modifiers did not improve the method sensitivity, the optimal pyrolysis and atomization temperatures are 1000C and 2900C, respectively.

In blood, 6 ug of magnesium nitrate was found to improve the method sensitivity. The optimal pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 800C and 2800C respectively.

Conclusion: In serum, the method detection limit was 2 ng l-1, the characteristic mass was 0.22 (+/- 0.07) pg and the accuracy ranged from 95 to 100 %. In blood, the detection limit was 7 ng l-1, the characteristic mass was 0.20 (+/- 0.02) pg and the accuracy ranged from 99 to 101 %.



Author: Chadi H Stephan, Michel Fournier, Pauline Brousseau and Sebastien Sauve
Credits/Source: Chemistry Central Journal 2008, 2:14



Published on: 2008-07-02

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