Direct calibration for determining aluminum in bone and soft tissues by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

We describe a direct-calibration method for determining aluminum in bone and soft tissues by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Aluminum in bone was determined in uncoated tubes, whereas the analytical performance in soft tissue analysis was markedly improved by using pyrolytically coated tubes with a L'vov platform and added calcium. The analytical imprecision (CV) was less than or equal to 5.4% for aluminium concentrations between 12 and 98 micrograms/L, and analytical recoveries of added analyte varied between 94.5% and 103.0%. Detection limits (2 SD of determinations of the zero standard) were 7 and 6 pg for bone and soft tissues, respectively. Characteristic masses (amounts of Al yielding an absorbance signal of 0.0044 A) were 9 and 8 pg, respectively.