Evaluation of washing procedures for pollution analysis of Ailanthus altissima leaves

Abstract

A study of nine different washing procedures using Alconox, HCl and Na₂ EDTA for use on Ailanthus altissima leaves in particulate pollutant analyses was conducted. Leaf mineral analyses of washed and unwashed samples were carried out for Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn by atomic absorption spectrometry, for Cl by a specific ion electrode and for Ti by a spectrophotometric procedure. The data showed that a procedure consisting of washing by hand with 1% Alconox, followed by 0·01m Na₂ EDTA, was most effective in removing surface Fe, Cu, Zn and Ti and led to little change in leaf K or Cl.