To determine the heavy metal concentration in your solution, you should first create a standard from defined concentrations of your metal ion of interest (e.g. from 0 to 3 mg/L). The sample should then be diluted at a concentration within this range to determine the metal ion concentration in your sample.

Hello Khaled,

As Sabrina said, you'll need to measure standards of your metal of interest. Ideally, three standard concentrations plus a blank (ultrapure water). You'll then be able to create a calibration plot with the 4 points. Dilute your sample sufficiently, that the absorbance of the diluted sample is less than the highest standard.

The sample concentration will = concentration reading from calibration plot x dilution factor (eg. 20, as in your example, 1mL diluted to 20mL).

Make sure your the blank and the diluent for standards and sample is the same ie. ultra pure water, diluted acid of the same strength.

Forgive me if I'm going over what you already know.

Cheers,

Adam

For determination of element on AAS, first prepare calibration curve of desire element using calibration range given in AAS cook book. Then, liquid sample should be diluted in the given calibration range. In your case if you take 1 mL sample and 19 mL water, then dilution will be 20 times.

Dilution factor= Final volume /initial volume= 20/1=20 times

After dilution, feed the sample on AAS, note sample reading from calibration curve then multiply the sample reading with dilution factor to get actual reading.

you must have to create a standard from defined concentrations of your metal ion of interest. For example you can read 5mL of your sample in 200 mL volumetric flask for high very heavy metal like Ag, Pb.

As Ana said, you need to use a standard reference material to draw a calibration curve in the range of the AAS instrument. This could be achieved by varying concentration by adequate dilution (which should be noted). The absorption of each metal concentration should then be determined including blank. Finally, your sample should also be diluted to a concentration within the calibration curve range via appropriate dilution factor and absorption taken. The actual quantity of your metal could then be estimated by multiply the extrapolated value of your sample equivalent to the absorbance by the dilution factor.