Electrothermal atomic absorption determination of aluminum in tissues dissolved in tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide.

In this rapid, precise method for the accurate determination of aluminum in biological tissue, the only preparative step required is the dissolution of the sample in hot aqueous tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, followed by dilution with ethanol. Aluminum is measured by electrothermal (graphite furnace) atomic absorption spectroscopy, with direct reference to aqueous standards. The CVs for the method within-day and day-to-day are 3.0% and 6.8%, respectively. Analytical recovery of added aluminum is 86 to 108%, and matrix effects are minimal. Measurement of aluminum in tissue from normal laboratory rats and rats injected with aluminum gave values close to those found by an acid digestion method, but higher than those obtained by extraction with a saturated solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetate.