83
3.3.3 Digestion of Moss Samples
The moss sampling protocol was performed according to set standard rules for collection of such samples, as mentioned above. In the laboratory the samples were
cleaned from extraneous plant material and air-dried at room temperature. Only the
last 3 years’ worth of growths of the moss materials was used without washing for
the analysis.
Moss samples (0.5 g) were placed in Teflon digestion vessels, 5 mL concentrated
nitric acid (HNO 3, 69%, trace pure for trace analysis) and 2 mL H 2 O 2 (30%, m/V
trace pure for trace analysis) were added, and the vessels were capped closed, tightened and placed in the rotor of the Mars microwave digestion system (Mars, CEM,
USA). The moss samples were digested at 180 °C. After cooling, the digested samples were quantitatively transferred into 25 mL calibrated flasks as previously given
by Balabanova et al. (2010) and Bačeva et al. (2012).
3.3.4 Analysis of Total Elements Contents
The investigated elements were analysed with the application of atomic emission
spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). Atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma (Varian 715-ES) was applied for the
determination of 25 elements: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K,
Fig. 3.3 The location in
Bitola region for moss
sampling
3 Moss Biomonitoring of Air Pollution Around the Coal Mine and Bitol…
3.3.3 Digestion of Moss Samples
The moss sampling protocol was performed according to set standard rules for collection of such samples, as mentioned above. In the laboratory the samples were
cleaned from extraneous plant material and air-dried at room temperature. Only the
last 3 years’ worth of growths of the moss materials was used without washing for
the analysis.
Moss samples (0.5 g) were placed in Teflon digestion vessels, 5 mL concentrated
nitric acid (HNO 3, 69%, trace pure for trace analysis) and 2 mL H 2 O 2 (30%, m/V
trace pure for trace analysis) were added, and the vessels were capped closed, tightened and placed in the rotor of the Mars microwave digestion system (Mars, CEM,
USA). The moss samples were digested at 180 °C. After cooling, the digested samples were quantitatively transferred into 25 mL calibrated flasks as previously given
by Balabanova et al. (2010) and Bačeva et al. (2012).
3.3.4 Analysis of Total Elements Contents
The investigated elements were analysed with the application of atomic emission
spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP). Atomic emission spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma (Varian 715-ES) was applied for the
determination of 25 elements: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K,
Fig. 3.3 The location in
Bitola region for moss
sampling
3 Moss Biomonitoring of Air Pollution Around the Coal Mine and Bitol…