ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Influence of production progress on the heavy metal content in flax fibers

Małgorzata I. Szynkowska, Edward Rybicki, Ewa Leśniewska, Aleksandra Pawlaczyk, Tadeusz Paryjczak, and Edyta Matyjas-Zgondek

Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

E-mail: miszynk@p.lodz.pl

Received: 11 June 2008  Revised: 5 January 2009  Accepted: 20 January 2009

Abstract: The aim of this work was to determine the content of selected heavy metals in flax materials depending on the stage of fiber manufacturing. Non-treated natural fiber composition was compared with that of fibers processed. Changes in the composition of yarn before and after the following scutching, hackling, washing, and bleaching were also investigated. Analysis of heavy metals was performed applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Flax material was mineralized in closed Teflon vials with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid which were then placed in a microwave oven system. Analytical quality of the obtained results was checked by the determination of elements in the Certificate Reference Materials of IAEA-V-10. The acquired results proved that the content of metals in flax clearly varies depending on the treatment process applied (bleaching, washing, coloration). Significant differences were also connected with the dye used.

Keywords: flax fibers - bleaching - dyeing - ICP-QMS

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-009-0044-4

Chemical Papers 63 (5) 537–542 (2009)