HEAVY METALS ANALYSIS

Based on the several journals that we have studied , we can conclude that the methods that the
scientists and zoologist team to conduct experiment on crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs are
likely the same . We have referred to several journals to study about the heavy metals analysis in
some species of shrimps and crabs . The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the
concentrations heavy metals in the muscle of shrimps and crabs . These are the methods used to
conduct the experiment :

BEFORE ANALYSIS / PREPARATION OF COMPOSITE SAMPLE :

1. The sample were collected during high tide

condition from the selected location.
2. The collected sample were rinsed with
distilled water and drained under folds of filter.
3. Then, the samples were weighed and
wrapped in aluminium foil.
4. Lastly, it being frozen at 10C prior for
analysis.

TRACE METAL ANALYSIS

1. The sample were defrosted for 2 hours, then

weighed into a petri dish and dried at high
temperature in Gallenkamp hot box oven.
2. 1g of each dried sample was digested with
20mL of 3M nitric acid for 3 hours while heating
until a clear solution was obtained.
3. The digested samples were filtered into 100mL
volumetric flask and the filtrate were made up to
50mL distilled water.
4. Then, the samples is being analyzed for heavy
metals using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometry.

However, some of the journal have different method in different steps. For example, in the first
journal , the samples were purchased from the local food vendors near the river side in the
sampling steps before analysis . In addition , the samples that they have been purchased were
already dried . So they dont need to rinse and dry the samples [24] . For the second journal , we
found that the scientist and the zoologist team used different ways of collecting and preparing
samples . The samples were caught by bottom trawlers at between 450 and 500m depth during
summer and winter [25] . Moreover , for the third journal , the method before heavy metals
analysis was conducted , they seperated the soft muscles tissues from the shells and store in the
freezer until chemical analysis . During the heavy metals analysation , all determinations were in
triplicates and sample blanks were prepared in the laboratory in similar manner to the field
samples [26]. For the forth journal , the sample of crabs and shrimps were collected from a river .
Shrimps and crabs were collected weekly for a period of six weeks using fishing drags net [27] .
For the fifth journal , for trace metals analysis , Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) reactor of 115ml
volume , 1cm wall thcikness with hermetic screw caps , were used for the digestion of the
muscle samples of the crustaceans . All reagent used were of high purity available and of
analytical reagent grade. The analyses were carried out on composite samples of 20 specimens of
each species having uniform size . This is to measure to reduce possible variations in metal
concentrations due to size and age [28]. Based on the last journal, in basic specimen preparation,
the fresh material is always more to the specimens that is previously fixed in ethanol and
Formalin. In this journal, they also remove the debris/epibionts, mucus, and bacteria and fungi.