Method development and validation: analysis of lead in human blood by perchloric acid digestion and quantification by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Date

5-2013

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Mary Grace E. Guardian

Abstract

Introduction: Lead (Pb), is a metal that exhibits bluish-grey color. It is naturally found in trace amounts on the Earth?s crust (Henry, 2000). It is an environmental contaminant that is mainly caused by anthropogenic activities such as mining. Also, it can readily enter the human system via inhalation, food and drinking water (Avalos, 2009). Lead can induce certain diseases, which depends on the exposure levels that may result to permanent disability or worst, death. That is why, it is important to have an indicator of the total lead content in the human body. Lead levels in the body are best known by determining the lead content of the blood. Hence, a sensitive analytical method must be employed to accurately determine blood lead levels. Analysis of lead in blood starts with the separation of lead from the blood matrix. The common methods of separating lead from blood are liquid-liquid extraction, cloud point extraction, wet acid digestion and dry ashing. Precipitating agents like trichloroacetic acid are usually utilized when the separation is carried out via liquid-liquid extraction. The use of such reagents will enable the proteins in the blood matrix to precipitate, thereby, liberating the analyte of interest. On the other hand, wet digestion techniques utilize strong acids, such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid, in decomposing the organic matter in the matrix (Twyman, 2005).

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2013 C42 /S24

Document Type

Thesis

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