Instrumental determination of trace metals in fly ash by INAA and AAS techniques and its statistical analysis

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 135; no. 1-4; pp. 325 - 334
• Main Authors: WACHASUNDER, S. D, PANDYA, G. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.03.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic absorption analysis; Coal; Coal-fired power plants; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fly ash; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; Regression analysis; Samples; Soil pollution; Spectroscopy; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Studies; Trace metals; Wastes; Trace analysis; Neutron activation analysis; Chemical analysis; Statistical analysis; Linear regression; Heavy metal; Fly ash; Trace element; Industrial waste; Coal power plant; Solid waste; Comparative study; Atomic absorption spectrometry
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1014739813370

For low-level detection of elements in an environmental sample, a number of techniques is available. However, satisfactory evaluation of the results by comparing the techniques is difficult. An attempt has been made in this study to analyse fly ash samples collected from a major coal fired power plant by two different techniques, viz. INAA and AAS, to determine elemental concentrations. A statistical approach was formulated and the experimental data was subjected to Wilcoxon sign rank test, paired 't'-test and linear regression analysis. The results confirm the hypothesis that 'no significant difference exists between the two techniques'.