Abstract:

A method for determination of trace lead and cadmium in Salvia by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry(GFAAS) was described. The influences of ashing/ atomization temperature, the matrix modifier and coexistent ions on analytical signals were investigated in detail. As a result, the detection limit of this method were 1.97 ng?ml-1 and 0.550 ng?ml-1. The average recoveries of potassium and sodium in sample were 0.25%～6.8% and 0.14%～4.7%, 0.44%～3.63% respectively, and the relative standard deviations of sample are 0.25%~6.8% and 0.14%~4.7% respectively. The test result proved that this method, which determination of lead and cadmium in Salvia by GFAAS, has its advantages of simple, high accuracy, fine precision, as well as great reproducibility. Finally, the concents of lead and cadmium, which in all the sample of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, accord with Chinese Pharmacopoeia’s standard. But there were S. cavaleriei and S. cavaleriei var. simplicifolia whose lead content exceeded the standard.