Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cadmium after solid-liquid extraction with dithizone

A method for the determination of trace amount of cadmium ion after preconcentration by extracting its dithizone complex into molten naphthalene was developed. Several experimental conditions such as pH of the solution, stirring time, the amounts of naphthalene, standing time and volume of the solution were optimized. Trace amount of cadmium ion in aqueous solution of sample was chelated with 5 mL of 0.001 M dithizone at pH 8. After addition of 0.15 g naphthalene, the solution was heated to about 85 oC and stirred (800 rpm) for 2 min to reproduce the microcrystalline naphthalene. Cadmium ion was determined by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The interfering effects of diverse concomitant ions (cations and anions) were investigated. Artificial sea water and a standard reference material (SRM) were analyzed by this method. The sensitivity and detection limit of 1.2 ngL-1 and 1.5 ng L-1 were found, respectively.