A COMPARISON OF DRY AND WET ASHING METHODS FOR THE ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF PEAT

Abstract

Peat samples were digested by dry and wet ashing for analysis by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-AES). Results were comparable for Ca, Mg, Fe, K, Mn and P. Values for Zn, S, Cu, Ti, Na and Pb were consistently higher by wet ashing. Dry ashing gave much higher values for Al and Ni than wet ashing. Key words: Elements, wet ashing, dry ashing, peat, ICP-AES