CD-ROM 3005A - 1 Revision 1 July 1992 METHOD 3005A ACID DIGESTION OF WATERS FOR TOTAL RECOVERABLE OR DISSOLVED METALS FOR ANALYSIS BY FLAA OR ICP SPECTROSCOPY 1.0 SCOPE AND APPLICATION 1.1 Method 3005 is an acid digestio n pro cedure use d to pr epa re surface and ground water samples for analysis by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FLAA) or by inductively coupled argon plasma spectroscopy (ICP). Samples prepared by Method 3005 may be analyzed by AAS or ICP for the following metals: Aluminum Magnesium Antimony** Manganese Arsenic* Molybdenum Barium Nickel Beryllium Potassium Cadmium Selenium* Calcium Silver Chromium Sodium Cobalt Thallium Copper Vanadium Iron Zinc Lead * ICP only **May be analyzed by ICP, FLAA, or GFAA 1.2 When analyzing for total dissolved metals filter the sample, at the time of collection, prior to acidification with nitric acid. 2.0 SUMMARY OF METHOD 2.1 Total recoverab le metals - T he entire sample is acidified at the time of collection with nitric acid. At the time of analysis the sample is heated with acid and substantially reduced in volume. The digestate is filtered and diluted to volume, and is then ready for analysis. 2.2 Dissolved metals - The sample is filtered through a 0.45-µm filter at the time of colle ction and the liqu id phase is then acidified at the tim e of collec tion with nitric acid. Samples for dissolved metals do not need to be digested as long as the acid concentrations have been adjusted to the same concentration as in the standards. 3.0 INTERFERENCES 3.1 The analyst should be cautioned that this digestion procedure may not be sufficiently vigorous to destroy some metal complexes.
