[en] Lead ions are removed using liquid emulsion membrane (LEM) technique. Phase Inversion method is used to prepare liquid emulsion membrane that does not require high stirring compare to conventional method and gives equal results. The LEM consists of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid as a carrier, commercial kerosene as an organic solvent, Triton X-100 or house hold detergents as an emulsifying agent and sulphuric acid as stripping agent. To prepare a stable emulsion various factors are involved such as emulsification time, effect of volume ratio of oil phase to internal (stripping) phase, concentration of surfactant, carrier and internal phase which affect the final removal efficiency. Some other factors that affect removal efficiency such as contact time and volume ratio of emulsion to external (feed) phase are also studied. Due to high removal efficiency of this technique, 90 to 99% Lead is removed in 5 to 10 minutes at optimum conditions. (author)

[en] Enrichment of trace levels of cadmium in vegetable materials by flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been carried out using anthranilic acid on activated carbon at pH 7. Up to hundred fold enrichment has been achieved by this reagent. Interferences due to matrix components are minimised by their addition at higher level to the standards and blank. Calibration curve is linear in 1-7 ppb range of cadmium. The relative standard deviation for 7 ppb of cadmium is found to be 3.5%. The observed cadmium level in root vegetables in 0.09-0.20 ppm. (author)