Determination and Comparison of Lead Concentration in Different

Locations through Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

(Project Proposal)

Abstract

Lead is present in environment (river, soil, lakes, seawater, air, and others). Very small
concentration of lead can say to have no effect on humans and other animals but if the
concentration of lead exceeds the normal level or the threshold, it can be very harmful.
From soil, if lead is present it can pollute water that then we use as drinking water and
for hygienic usage and it can also become particulate as automobile passed through it
and we can inhale this. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the lead
concentration in soil samples that collected from different location using atomic
absorption spectroscopy. The lead concentration of each soil sample will be compare
with the normal concentration that a soil should have. After, the concentration of
different soil samples will compare from one another to see the difference.

Introduction

Lead is the heaviest of the non-radioactive metals that naturally occur in substantial
quantities in the earth's surface. Lead is present in all soils, rivers, lakes, and seawater.
Despite its weight, lead is also in the air, a component of dust and of sea spray. Lead is
present in the proportion of 16 parts per million (ppm) in igneous rocks, the most
common ancient rock on the surface, and at an average of about 10 ppm in common
soils that are far from sites of contamination; natural soils usually have less than 50 ppm
of lead but are never lead free.

Naturally, native lead is rare in nature and usually found in ore with zinc, silver and
copper. Lead occurs naturally in environment though most of lead concentration found
in the environment is the result of human activities. Unnatural lead-cycle has consisted
due to its application in gasoline. In car engine, lead is burned so that lead salt will
generate. These lead salts that produced are then exhausted in the environment. Large
particle of lead salt will go through the soil and it will pollute it. Smaller particle will travel
with air and humans can inhale it.

Lead has no essential function in human body and instead it is harmful. Some of the
lead harmful effects are: disruption of the biosynthesis of hemoglobin and anemia; a rise
in blood pressure; kidney damage, miscarriages and subtle abortions; disruption of
nervous systems brain damage; declined fertility of men through sperm damage;
diminished learning abilities of children; behavioral disruptions of children, such as
aggression; impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. Also lead can enter a fetus through
mother’s placenta and it cause serious damage in the nervous system and the brains of
the unborn.

Methodology
Preparation of Sample

Two grams of sample should be place in a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask and 8M HCl will
add to the flask. The solution is place on a hot plate for five minutes. Solution should
cool and then addition of 10-mL of deionized water. The solution will then subject to
Whattman no. 1 filter paper (the solution should be subjected through filter until the
solution becomes clear). The filtrate will be transfer to a 50-mL volumetric flask and
dilute to the mark with deionized water. The solution will be use for the determination of
lead.

Preparation of Standard and Calibration Curve

1, 3, 5 and 10 ppm standard solution will prepare. 10-mL of Lead solution (1000µg/mL)
will pipette in a 100-mL volumetric flask and the dilute with deionized water. 1, 3, 5 and
10-mL will pipette and transfer in 100 Erlenmeyer. 50-mL of 8M HCl will be added and
then dilute up to the mark with deionized water. The different solutions that resulted
from the dilution are 1, 3, 5 and 10 ppm lead standard consecutively. The solutions will
be aspirated and the AAS will generate the absorbance of each concentration. Through
linear regression, a calibration curve will be made.

Analysis of Soil Samples:

The sample prepared will subject to aspiration into the Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer. If the solution has absorbance that is higher than that of the highest
standard concentration, the sample should subject to further dilution then aspirate
again.

Reference

- http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/pb.htm
-