Direct Determination of Aluminum and Zinc in Serum by Graphite Furnace Zeeman Effect Background Correction

Abstract

This study was undertaken as a part of method modification and validation for rapid and
accurate analysis of aluminum and zinc in serum samples. This paper reported an improved,
precise and accurate graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method using Zeeman
Effect background correction for the direct determination of aluminum and zinc in serum. We
considered 11 healthy volunteers children aged group 0-18 months and 64 children from poorsocioeconomic status of the same aged group.
Direct determination method includes small volume of sample (10 -50 µL), easy and
quick sample preparation (30 min) and an optimized furnace program in order to obtain a
justified characteristic mass (mo). The analysis of zinc required magnesium nitrate [Mg (NO3)2]
as a matrix modifier whereas aluminum was determined without any modifier. Optimal
measuring condition was established for two modifiers and the most appropriate modifier was
then chosen on the basis of the sensitivity and detection limits. The mean normal serum
aluminum and zinc concentrations from 11 healthy subjects was 36.0 ± 9.21 µg/L and 1.80 ±
0.53 µg/L. The mean normal serum aluminum and zinc for the 64 was 78.60 ± 54.77 µg/L and
1.23 ± 0.88 µg/L.
The method has proved to be adequate for routine monitoring purposes due to its
simplicity and high sensitivity. This study supported our project for routine screening of zinc and
aluminum status in poor socio-economic populations especially those are victim of diarrheal
disease. Our method validation project is continuing for various clinical samples like, urine and
cerebrospinal fluid.