Abstract
A simple method was developed for the direct and simultaneous determination of copper, cadmium, and lead in urine by a multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (Perkin-Elmer SIMAA 6000). Pd was used as the chemical modifier along with a purge gas (100% Ar). The matrix interferences were removed effectively so that a simple calibration curve method could be used (with microwave digestion). A Chinese medication sample (Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang) used to find the optimal temperature program. The recovery (using the Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang sample) were within 90%-110% for three elements. With the ashing temperature at 600℃, and the atomization temperature at 1950℃, the detection limits were 0.74 μg l-1 for Cu, 0.12 μg l-1 for Cd, and 0.03 μg l-1 for Pb. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) was lower than 8%.