Sample Decomposition Techniques in Inorganic Trace Elemental Analysis

Sample Decomposition Techniques in Inorganic Trace Elemental Analysis 

In general, a decomposition procedure is required to alter the original chemical environment of a sample into a digest (i.e., a solution in which the analyte is distributed homogeneously). More specific conditions for a decomposition technique include the following  

Department of Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland 

This chapter gives an overview of decomposition methods and recent developments and applications of the decomposition of different materials. Other sample preparation methods, such as chemical extraction and leaching, solubilization with bases, enzymatic decomposition, thermal decomposition, and anodic oxidation, are beyond the scope of this contribution and are not discussed. 

There are numerous publications giving useful information on the decomposition of many conceivable combinations of matrix and analyte. Some comprehensive books and review articles contain material pertinent to either organic [1 ] or inorganic [5-10] matrices others, to both [11-21]. 

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