Determination of copper, cobalt, selenium and molybdenum in liver by flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A method for the determination of copper, cobalt, selenium and molybdenum in liver using a single digest and atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The elements are complexed with ammonium pyrrolidin-1-yldithioformate (ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate) and extracted into chloroform without pH adjustment. Cobalt, selenium and molybdenum are all atomized from the furnace wall and hollow cathode lamps are used as light sources for all elements. The background correction is satisfactory using a deuterium lamp. The results obtained agree with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material 1577a Bovine Liver Certified Values, and correlate with standard methods. Details of the digestion, extraction and analysis are discussed. The method is simple and quick, enabling ten samples to be analysed per day by one operator.