4. Sample pre-treatment

In the absence of treatment, samples intended for trace metal analysis will undergo changes. Adsorption (to particles or container walls) and microbiological processes will influence the distribution of sample constituents, which may interfere with the analytical procedure.

The total trace element content is the sum of the dissolved and particulate fractions.

In the case of samples containing small amounts of suspended solids, the particulate fraction is often neglected, and the total (unfiltered) samples are then analyzed.

On the other hand, when information on dissolved and/or particulate fractions is required, total content analysis becomes problematic for water samples containing high levels of suspended solids. Since many compounds adhere strongly to particles, a total analysis would be difficult to assess (figure...