Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES): Alternative Spectroscopy Method for Heavy Metals Analysis in Water

Abstract

Water is one of the necessities in our daily life, yet its pollution poses risks to human and ecological well-being. In this study, the presence of eight heavy metals in samples collected from two lakes and five tap water sources were investigated using microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). Utilizing an alternative spectroscopy method, MP-AES able to achieve detection limits in the sub-parts per billion (ppb) level. Analysis of the water samples revealed that all eight metals were detected within a concentration range, from undetectable levels up to 0.93 mg/L. Moreover, the recovery on sample spike demonstrated an acceptable range of 107-114 %. These findings underscore the potential of MP-AES as a promising method for the analysis of heavy metals in water, offering valuable insights for water quality assessment and management.