Analysis of Au, Ag, Pb, Zn Levels in Soil Samples Using The Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Method

Abstract

Minerals are inorganic solid materials that occur naturally, consisting of one or more chemical elements in certain proportions distributed in the earth's crust (Handoko et al., 2015). Mineral resources or mining materials have been provided by the earth's crust as part of rock minerals in certain quantities. Mining minerals are generally found in nature bound together with various metals and other elements (by-minerals) physically, even chemically. Metal ores are usually trapped in rocks and in metal ores there are also various kinds of minerals (Sari, 2016). The aim of this research is to find out how to analyze the content of Au, Ag, Pb and Zn in soil samples using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method, and to find out the results of analyzing the content of Au, Ag, Pb and Zn in soil samples using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method. The working method is to receive samples received by other departments (in this research received from the Exploration Department of PT Indo Muro Kencana) then sample preparation is carried out using a ring grinder, then weighing is carried out then the sample digestion process is analyzed using AAS. The research results are carried out by optimizing the atomic breakfast spectrophotometry equipment, The results of soil sample analysis were carried out using atomic breakfast spectrophotometry. Based on the conclusions, the method for analyzing Au, Ag, Pb and Zn metal content in soil samples begins with the process of crushing the soil sample with a crusher until the sample particles are 2 mm in size, and grinding them using a ring grinder until they are 200 mesh (75 μm). Then proceed with wet digestion using aquaregia for Au metal, and three acids (HCl, HNO3, and HClO4) for Ag, Pb, and Zn metals (base metal). Then it was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, and the results of the analysis of Au, Ag, Pb and Zn metals in the soil samples showed that the Exploration Department's soil samples contained these four metals.