Trace elements in soil: Their determination and speciation

Summary

The different types of soil analysis are reviewed in-outline and some recent developments and methodologies are discussed.

For the determination of the total trace element content of soils, conventional, multi-element, solid sample methods including d.c. arc optical emission and spark source mass spectrometric procedures are briefly considered together with the potential of current X-ray fluorescence, solid sample graphite furnace atomic absorption and glow discharge mass spectrometry.

The use of strong acid digestion, with for example aqua regia, for the determination of pseudo-total concentrations of heavy or toxic metal accumulations in soil is described.

The limitations of solution methods for multi-element analysis of soils are outlined together with the prospects for the use of soil slurries to eliminate the sample preparation and dilution problems associated with the dissolution of soils. The difficulties in taking reproducible and representative samples of inhomogeneous materials such as soils are highlighted.

Trace element speciation can be defined as the identification and quantification of the different forms or phases in which they occur in soils. Some examples of such procedures and extractants for both essential and toxic elements in soils are presented. The difficulties of trace element speciation in soils as distinct from soil extracts or soil solutions are illustrated briefly.