Validation of methods of atomic absorption with flame for the analysis of potasium, zinc and manganese, and a spectrophotometer for the analysis of phosphorus in samples of fertilizers

This study validated the spectrophotometric method by atomic absorption for the analysis of potassium, manganese and zinc in samples of fertilizers. Likewise, it validated the spectrophotometric method for the analysis of phosphorus by generation of the fosfomolibdovanadate. species The limits of detection and quantification obtained to a level of confidence of the 95% were: 0,6 ppm and 1,1 ppm for the potassium, 1,1 ppm, and 2,2 ppm for the phosphorus, 0,3 ppm and 0,5 ppm for the zinc and 0,6 ppm and 1,1 ppm for the manganese respectively. It established the repetibility and reproducible of the method to a level of the 95% of confidence and it determined that the fertilizers tolerance norm is complied with adequately for the potassium and the manganese. On the other hand, for the concentrations of phosphorus higher than 20%, it presented smaller reproducibility. For the zinc, it presented problems of precision of the method, in the two samples analyzed. The accuracy of the methodologies were the adequate. In the case of the phosphorus, it recommended the employment of a composed digestive mixture of nitric and perchloric acid when be a matter of materials that possess organic matter. (S. Grainger)