DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METAL IN A SIMPLE ASCIDIAN PHALLUSIA NIGRA BYATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

*D. Shanmuga Priya, S. Sankaravadivu and H. Kohila Subathra Christy

ABSTRACT

The present study aims at analysing the heavy metals in the marine simple ascidian Phallusia nigra. Accumulation of heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc and mercury were determined. Analysis of the heavy metal in the selected animal sample was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Measurements were made using a hollow electron discharge lamp (EDL) for copper, cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc and mercury at wavelengths of 220.62 nm, 228.80 nm, 283.31 nm, 193.70 nm, 240 nm and 253.7 nm respectively. This study confirms that the risk of heavy metals contamination in the ascidian appears low.

Keywords: Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Phallusia nigra, heavy metal.