Study of an analytical method to determine trace amounts of As and Pb in vegetables using a portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

Microwave digestion was carried out as pre-treatment prior to trace elemental analysis of potato, tomato, and cucumber using a portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Using microwave makes it possible to easily digest these vegetables. We found that sub-mg/kg concentrations of As and Pb in these vegetables can be simultaneously detected using the portable spectrometer on condition that microwave digestion is performed as pre-treatment. The variation of the net intensities of the As Kα line, the Pb Lα line, and the Pb Lβ line in the spectra of these vegetables containing trace amounts of As and Pb is also discussed. (author)