On-line pre-concentration for the measurement of cadmium in urine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The sensitivity for the measurement of cadmium in urine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was increased 27.7-fold by the use of an on-line alumina microcolumn and a slotted quartz tube. Cadmium in 2.5 ml of sample was trapped on to basic alumina and rapidly eluted with 8%V/V HNO₃. The effects of sample pH and column size on performance were investigated. Results obtained with a series of urine specimens compared well with those obtained by electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry.