Studies of pretreatments in the determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Sb and Bi in suspended particulate matter and plankton by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry with a hanging mercury drop electrode.

The determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Sb and Bi by differential-pulse anodic-stripping voltammetry has been applied to samples of plankton and suspended particulate matter after decomposition of organic matter by two methods: low-temperature ashing with microwave-activated oxygen and wet-ashing in pressurized Teflon crucibles. The loss of these elements, and contamination, were studied with a standard reference material. The relative merits of these oxidation techniques are discussed.