Determination of cadmium and zinc isotope ratios in sheep's blood and organ tissue by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Invited lecture

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of Cd and Zn isotope ratios in sheep's blood and organ tissue. Samples were digested with nitric acid using a microwave oven. Cadmium and Zn were separated from matrix components using adsorption chromatography prior to isotope ratio measurement by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A concentration factor of 35 was achieved. Limits of detection for the determination of Cd and Zn in blood were 0.34 and 0.40 pg g^–1, respectively. Cadmium isotope ratios (¹¹¹Cd: ¹⁰⁶Cd; ¹¹¹Cd: ¹¹⁰Cd) were determined with a precision of 2–3% for both peak height and area count measurements. Zinc isotope ratios (⁶⁸Zn: ⁶⁷Zn; ⁶⁸Zn: ⁶⁶Zn) were determined with a precision of 2% for peak height measurements and 1% for peak area count measurements.