Element contents in the lower São Francisco river assessed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) analysis.

The São Francisco river basin, also known as Velho Chico, exhibits an extension of over 640,000 km2 and runs 2,700 km from Minas Gerais to reach its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, on the Alagoas and Sergipe states coast border. Water bodies or springs are classified according to the uses they are destined, concerning the established requirements. In the present work, the objective was to trace the profile of B, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, V, Zn e Mg contents present in the São Francisco river using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Hence, we propose to assess the water quality of the São Francisco River based on its micro and macro elements contents. According to the obtained results, the river water potability is assessed based on the Brazilian Ministry of Health standards. The concentration of these elements was below the maximum tolerance limits, and, therefore, these waters meet the potability standards under the conditions tested.