Quantitative Trace Analysis of Biological Materials: Principles and Methods for Determination of Trace Elements and Trace Amounts of Some Macro Elements

The understanding of the functions of trace elements in metabolism, whether associated with microorganisms, plants or animals, has advanced considerably during the last twenty years. There are two main aspects of the importance of trace elements in biological materials: first, their toxic effects and secondly, the essential nature of some of the elements for normal growth and health. Research in trace elements and their essential role in biological processes has advanced through several stages, necessitating more and more effective methods of determination. Despite the marked improvements in methods of trace analysis during these twenty years, the ever increasing need for higher sensitivity to meet new demands has meant the greater need, not only for improving the limits of detection, but also for new standard reference materials, better sampling, better sample handling and better design of trace and ultra-trace analysis laboratories. This book focusses on all areas of trace element determination with detailed discussion on all major methods of analysis. Additionally, the determination of concentrations of major toxic and essential trace elements is discussed at length.

Table of Contents:
General Aspects Introduction (H.A. McKenzie and L.E. Smythe). Sampling, processing and quality control in trace analysis (H.A. McKenzie and L.E. Smythe). Design of laboratories for trace and ultra-trace analysis (H.A. McKenzie and L.E. Smythe). Chromatographic Methods in Trace Determination of Elements Ion chromatography (P.R. Haddad). High performance liquid chromatography (P. Jones). Gas chromatography (T.H. Risby). Spectroscopic Methods in Trace Determination of Elements Absorption spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry (L.G. Hargis). Flame emission and atomic absorption spectroscopy (J.B. Willis and B.J. Stevens). Emission spectroscopy (M.M. Kimberly, E.S. DiPetro and D.C. Paschal). Mass spectrometry of metals (H.-R. Schulten and W.-D. Lehmann). X-ray spectrometry (D.E. Leyden). Electrochemical Methods in Trace Determination of Elements Polarography and stripping voltammetry (H.A. McKenzie). Ion-selective electrode methods and potentiometry (M.E. Meyerhoff and M.E. Collison). Radiochemical Methods in Trace Determination of Elements Radiochemical methods, especially neutron activation analysis (R. Cornelis). Automated Methods and Data Handling Laboratory robotics for trace analysis (G.L. Hawk and H.M. Kingston). A note on automated methods in clinical studies (L.E. Smythe). Kinetic methods (D.V. Vinjamoori). Data processing and interpretation (L.E. Smythe). Reference Materials, Sample Preparation and Individual Sample Types Biological reference materials for quality control (M. Ihnat). Food samples (J.W. Jones). Agricultural samples (M.W. Pritchard and J. Lee). Sea water samples (G. Gillain). Clinical samples (G.V. Iyengar and V. Iyengar). Selected `Essential' Trace Elements Iron, cobalt and nickel (S.S. Jorgensen and J.R. Andersen). Copper and zinc (H.T. Delves). Chromium (J. Kumpulainen). Molybdenum (M. Paakki and J. Kumpulainen). Manganese (K. Heydorn). Selenium (F. Alt and J. Messerschmidt). Fluorine (J.W. Shortland). Iodine (G.B. Belling). Silicon (O.K. Borggaard). Some Common Toxic Trace Elements Cadmium (H.L. Boiteau and A. Pineau). Mercury (H.L. Boiteau and A. Pineau). Thallium (H.A. Chandler and M. Scott). Arsenic (K.S. Subramanian). Lead (K.S. Subramanian). Selected Other Trace Elements Tin (H.J.M. Bowen). Lithium (E.I. Hamilton). Aluminium (D.H. Froment and A.C. Alfrey). Antimony (B.M. Smith). Gold and platinum (T.R. Sykes). Determination of some `Macro Elements' Introductory note. Calcium and magnesium (V.K. Panday). Nitrogen (H.A. McKenzie). Phosphorus (J.E. Fildes). Sulphur (J.E. Fildes). Appendices Biological and related reference materials for determination of elements (M. Ihnat). Chemical speciation of trace elements in analysis of biological materials (L.E. Smythe). Index