Mg-W Cell - Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - Determination Of Gold In Environmental Samples

An electrodeposition method of trace elements using a Mg-W cell is reported. This method does not need a power supply (electric source) like a potentiostat or a battery. Some elements electrodeposited on a W sheet were detected by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with a tungsten atomizer. The detection limits of An, Sb, Te and T1 by Mg-W cell-ETAAS were 55, 48, 47 and 880 pg/mL, respectively. The severe interferences of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Pb and Zn on Au-AAsignal, which were observed in AAS, were eliminated by use of the Mg-W cell. The Mg-W cell electrodeposition method was applied to the determination of Au in sea and surface water samples. The recovery of gold in spiked environmental samples was in the range of 91 to 104%.