Determination of lead, copper, zinc and iron in centella asiatica by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Thai)

Abstract

This study monitored the presence of lead, copper, zinc and iron in Centella asiatica using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The appropriate wavelengths for measuring lead, copper, zinc and iron were 283.3, 342.8, 213.9 and 248.3 nm, respectively. Under the selected conditions, the linear calibration graph was recorded over the range of 0.2 - 5.0 µg ml^-1 for lead and copper, 0.2 - 4.0 µg ml^-1 for zinc and 0.2 - 10.0 µg ml^-1 for iron. Eighteen Centella asiatica samples were collected from Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Mahasarakham, Nakhonratchasima and Suratthani Provinces. To prepare the Centella asiatica samples, 0.5 g of each sample was digested with nitric acid for 3 hours. The results of lead, copper, zinc and iron levels for Centella asiatica samples were found to be in the range of 0 - 18.78, 3.39 - 13.89, 28.03 - 130.26 and 85.52 - 1,144.81 µg g^-1, respectively.