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Comparative study between probe focussed sonication and conventional stirring in the evaluation of cadmium and copper in plants

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Abstract

Ultrasound (US)-assisted extraction has been widely used for metal ion extraction in plants due to its unique properties of decreased extraction time, minimal contamination, low reagent consumption and low cost. However, very few papers present a sound comparison between probe-focussed sonication and conventional stirring in the evaluation of metal ion extraction in plants. In this study, ultrasonic-assisted digestion has been evaluated and compared to magnetic stirring for total copper and cadmium determination by atomic absorption spectrometry in biological samples (plants, plankton and mussels). The same experimental conditions of sample amount and particle size, extractant solution and extraction time were applied for both ultrasound and magnetic stirring-assisted extraction methods in order to truly compare their effect on metal ion solubilisation. To gain further insight in this issue, dried and fresh plants were tested. The results obtained indicated that osmotic tension in cell walls, produced when dried and powdered samples were immersed in the extractant solution, had an important contribution to metal ion solubilisation, the enhancement due to US for the same purpose being negligible.

Sorghum in soil experiments with different levels of cadmium.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to FCT (Science and Technical Foundation) from Portugal for financial support under Project PPCDT-AMB/55312/2004 “Soil–plant transfer of trace elements. A phytoremediation study”. S. Pereira acknowledges the doctoral grant SFRH/BD/32490/2006 given by FCT from Portugal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Engenharia Química e Biológica, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Sara Pereira & Luís P. Fonseca

  2. Analytical & Food Chemistry Department, Science Faculty, University of Vigo at Ourense Campus, 32004, Ourense, Spain

    José L. Capelo

  3. Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    Teresa Armas, Fernanda Vilhena, Maria L. S. Gonçalves & A. M. Mota

  4. ICAAM–Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, University of Évora, Herdade Experimental da Mitra, 7000-676, Évora, Portugal

    Ana P. Pinto

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  1. Sara Pereira
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  2. Luís P. Fonseca
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  3. José L. Capelo
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  4. Teresa Armas
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  7. Maria L. S. Gonçalves
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  8. A. M. Mota
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Correspondence to A. M. Mota.

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Pereira, S., Fonseca, L.P., Capelo, J.L. et al. Comparative study between probe focussed sonication and conventional stirring in the evaluation of cadmium and copper in plants. Anal Bioanal Chem 398, 2315–2324 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4178-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4178-6

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