ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 11.1 Sampling........................................................................................................................... 278 11.2 Storage and Preservation............................................................................................... 279 11.3 Pretreatment of Samples................................................................................................ 280 11.4 Digestion of Samples...................................................................................................... 281 11.5 Analytical Methods ........................................................................................................ 282
11.5.1 Classical Methods.............................................................................................. 282 11.5.2 Spectrophotometric Method............................................................................ 284 11.5.3 Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Techniques.......................................................................................................... 285 11.5.4 Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy ....................................... 286 11.5.5 Inductively Coupled Plasma Methods .......................................................... 287 11.5.6 Electrochemical Methods ................................................................................. 288
11.5.6.1 Voltammetric Techniques. .............................................................. 288 11.5.6.2 Potentiometric Techniques.............................................................. 289
11.5.7 Ion Chromatography ........................................................................................ 289 11.5.7.1 Other Chromatographic Techniques............................................. 290
11.5.8 Other Techniques .............................................................................................. 290 11.5.8.1 Luminescence.................................................................................... 290 11.5.8.2 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry ................................................. 291 11.5.8.3 Neutron Activation Analysis.......................................................... 291
11.5.9 The Particular Case of Mercury...................................................................... 291 11.6 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 292 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 292 References ................................................................................................................................... 293
Natural waters contamination is a worldwide distributed problem which deserves large attention not only due to its environmental hazardous effects but also for the risks to the human health as well as the economical damages it produces. Between the wide diversity of pollutants affecting water resources heavy metals receive particular concern considering their strong toxicity even at low concentrations.
