Advanced Instrumental Techniques for the Analysis of Trace Metals Released from Steel Industry with Special Reference to use of ICP-AES

Uncontrolled emissions from steel industries can produce multi-dimensional impacts on the environment, including those due to release of trace metals. Certain metals present even in trace concentrations pose serious environmental problems in the surrounding biosphere. Consequently, a precise, accurate and rapid instrumental
technique is required to monitor levels of heavy metals in various emissions released by steel plants. The paper reviews the various instrumental techniques employed for such assessments. A comparison of the various techniques reveals that ICP-AES, despite its limitations in sample preparations, offers a very reliable and powerful tool for heavy metal analysis. Its usefulness is discussed with reference to some of the studies carried out in the Environment Laboratory of SAIL (R&D) on air and water samples from some SAIL steel plants.