Optimization of a multielement sequential extraction method employing an experimental design approach for metal partitioning in soils and sediments

Rebeca Santamaría-Fernández; Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro; Steve J. Hill

doi:10.1039/B110293C

Rebeca Santamaría-Fernández,^a Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro^b and Steve J. Hill*^a

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Environmental Sciences, Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

^b Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avda. Das Ciencias s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Abstract

The optimisation of a simple multielement extraction method employing an experimental design approach is described. The method uses centrifugation to pass one extractant solution at varying pH through a contaminated soil sample. The nature and concentration of the acid, rate of centrifugation and time, number of sequential leachates and the ratio of extractant volume∶sample weight have been studied in order to obtain the optimum conditions for extraction. A fractional factorial experimental design was performed, and the results were used to identify significance which was then evaluated by carrying out a central composite experimental approach. Once optimum conditions had been obtained, sequential leaches were analysed by ICP-AES and chemometrics were employed to identify the composition of each component. Comparisons have been made with previous studies and tentative assignments, based on well defined separated fractions and percentage compositions for individual elements, used to identify the different physico-chemical components in the sample.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/B110293C

Article type

Paper

Submitted

09 Nov 2001

Accepted

28 Feb 2002

First published

13 Mar 2002

Download Citation

J. Environ. Monit., 2002,4, 330-336

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