Fractionation and determination of trace elements in plants, soils and sediments

Abstract

With the aid of more sensitive instrumental methods it is possi- ble to determine trace elements after separation of different fractions from soil and plant samples. Fractions of soils and sediments are obtained by extraction with different reagents, chosen in function of biological, ecological or chemical considerations. In plant samples it is possible to separate free ions and organo-mineral complexes combining techniques of extraction, sephadex gel filtration and ion exchange, thin layer chromatography, electrophoresis and molecular filtration.