A hydride atomic absorption method has been applied to determine the antimony concentration in a single specimen of fourteen different mushroom species. The analytical methods used for the other metals were flame atomic absorption (for: zinc), Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorption (for: thallium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, cobalt, vanadium, manganese, molybdenum, strontium and cesium), hydride atomic absorption (for: bismuth, selenium, arsenic and tin), and cold vapour atomic absorption with amalgamation (for mercury). The correlation analysis of data carried out reveals a characteristic negative correlation of antimony with the metals Cd, Pd, As, Ni, Hg and Ag. According to this conclusion a suggestion is made that this is due to the competition of antimony with these metals for the same available ligands of chelating compounds in the plant.

In vitro studies were carried out in order to determine the adsorption of tilidine HCl, a narcotic analgesic, by activated charcoal (max. adsorption capacity 185.5 mg/g of charcoal). The path of the adsorption isotherms at pH 1.2 and 7.5 suggests that the in vivo adsorption of tilidine HCl may be increased when the drug passes from the stomach to the intestine, unless the intestinal content exerts a displacing effect. Nevertheless, the adsorption was dependent on the quantity of activated charcoal used, becoming more complete when the quantity of activated charcoal was increased. The effects of additives on the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal were also investigated in vitro. Ethanol, sorbitol and sucrose significantly reduced drug adsorption, while cacao powder, milk and starch had no effect on tilidine adsorption. At an acid pH, Federa Activated Charcoal significantly adsorbed more drug than either Norit A or Activated Charcoal Merck.

Four sample preparation methods (dilute acid digestion, concentrated acid digestion, alkali fusion, and low temperature ashing) for the determination of fluoride in vegetation are compared. A fluoride ion selective electrode is used for the final quantitative measurements. Ionic strength and pH are maintained by a concentrated citrate buffer. The highest sensitivity and reproducibility are obtained by low temperature ashing of the dry sample. Several vegetables, grown in the neighborhood of a glaze factory, were simultaneously analyzed by 2 of the methods, the dilute acid digestion and the low temperature ashing procedures. The higher fluoride content found with the latter technique is attributed to the complete mineralization of the sample.

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