Sample preparation and determination of the element content from low‐weight feather samples

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Abstract
In the investigation of heavy metals in bird feathers, birds have to be protected by using as little material as possible. However, small sample size has generated difficulties in sample preparation. We showed that ultrasonic washing is efficient in eliminating all the water‐soluble contamination from the surface of the feather samples. We also show how to avoid previous contamination from the walls of the teflon bomb during the microwave digestion. There is no loss of sample, and the “memory effect”; of the bombs is eliminated. We determined the element content from a homogenised feather powder sample of the weight of one swallow feather for Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Sr, using ICP‐AES technique with impulse sample introduction method.