Determination of trace and rare earth elements in three cassia SPP. by ICP-MS

ABSTRACT

Microwave acid digestion of Cassia aitriculata, C. obtusifolia and C. uniflora for the determination of trace elements [Sc. V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga. Rb, Sr, Zr, Mb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb and U] and rare earth elements [La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tin, Yb, Lu and Y] by ICP-MS was carried out to estimate their concentrations and to correlate the associations of these elements with each other. The results obtained by using HF, HNO[3] and HC1 in a microwave digestion system for the analysis of plant samples and geochemical reference materials [SY-2] showed close agreement with the accepted values of SY-2. the very high levels of Zn [266.16 ppm]. Rb [178.68 ppm]. Sr [2567.63 ppm] and Ha [2043.16 ppm] indicate the ability of Cassia spp. towards hyperaccumulation of these elements from their respective environments