Determination of cadmium in environmental samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using a tantalum-foil platform with the possibility of standardless analysis

Abstract

A comparison is made between the calculated and experimental values obtained for the characteristic mass, m0, with a tantalum-foil platform in a pyrolytic graphite coated graphite tube, using different chemical modifiers (Pd 0.5 mg ml–1, NaH2PO4 10 mg ml–1 and ascorbic acid 10 mg ml–1), and various solutions of reference materials of environmental samples. All measurements of m0 were performed on an Hitachi Model Z8000 d.c. magnet, Zeeman spectrometer and a Beijing Second Optical Instrument Factory Model WFX-1G2, a.c. magnet, Zeeman spectrometer. Theoretical calculations of m0 for Cd at atomization temperatures ranging from 1000 to 2200 K, made every 100 K, were based on the calculation formula and fundamental parameters proposed by L'vov et al. Quantitative analysis data for Cd in sea-water and in solutions of reference materials (pork liver, wheat powder, peach leaf, tea leaf, tea tree leaf, cabbage, water sediments, coal fly ash and geological samples) by standardless analysis are presented.