Determinação de Al, Cr, Cu e Zn em amostras de cana-de-açúcar usando amostragem direta de suspensão e detecção por espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização eletrotérmica em forno de grafite (GF AAS)

Abstract

In this work developed methods for the direct determination of Al, Cr, Cu and Zn in leaf samples of sugarcane using slurry sampling and detection by GF AAS are presented. Leaf samples were dried and ground at different particle sizes (106 µm, 75 µm and 53 µm). Samples with granulometry smaller than 53 µm associated with the stabilizing agents nitric acid 5 % v/v and the mixture nitric acid 5% v/v:Triton X-100 0.04% v/v were the most suitable for the slurry preparation. The best strategy for slurry homogenization was the bubbling with air. However, this was stopped during the sampling step (stop-flow). The optimization of the experimental conditions for the determination of Al, Cr, Cu and Zn by GF AAS included studies of matrix effects, the use of chemical modifiers and optimization of the temperatures of pyrolysis and atomization. In the determination of Al and Cr, Mg(NO3)2 was used as chemical modifier, while for the Zn, Pd was used. The use of a chemical modifier for Cu determinations was not necessary. The best pyrolysis and atomization temperatures obtained were 1700°C and 2400°C for Al; 1500°C and 2300°C for Cr; 1000°C and 2100°C for Cu and 1100°C and 2100°C for Zn. The matrix effects were evaluated by comparing data obtained by using the method of standard additions and analytical curves in an aqueous medium. The accuracy of the procedure was evaluated by comparison with the data obtained using the technique of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The optimized method was used for direct analysis of a series of slurry samples of sugarcane leaves. Values between 6.03 to 56.70 µg g -1 for Al; 23.95 to 472.79 µg g -1 for Cr; 11.59 to 19.38 µg g -1 to Cu and 15.14 to 26.44 µg g -1 for Zn were found. The results demonstrate that the direct analysis of slurry samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS) presents itself as a feasible alternative for studies involving the diagnosis and correction of nutritional imbalances of plants as sugarcane.