Investigation of the water samples for content of bulk, trace and heavy
metals is of great importance for the humanity. For this purpose, a large number of
analytical techniques have been developed. Beside analytical techniques, there are
systems and methods for pretreatment and preparation of the samples for analysis.
There are also procedures for sampling and sample preservation which are essential for
the final result. There are several available instrumental techniques for the analysis of
metals in water samples (AAS, GFAAS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, etc.), which can be
divided into several groups such as volumetric, spectrophotometric, electrochemical,
chromatographic, etc. All these techniques may be coupled among themselves and with
techniques for sample preparation such as preconcentration techniques. This improves
the performance of the applied techniques and decrease the possibility of the
contamination of samples. This chapter provides an insight into all these processes and
issues from sampling, sample conservation, pretreatment and preparation to the
application of different analytical techniques for analysis of water samples.
Keywords: Analysis, Classical methods, Instrumental methods, Metals, Sampling, Sample conservation, Sample pretreatment and preparation, Water.
