Determination of cadmium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using palladium and tartaric acid as a mixed chemical modifier and a tungsten-foil platform with the possibility of standardless analysis

Abstract

Palladium and tartaric acid as a mixed chemical modifier is a better modifier for the determination of Cd in complex environmental samples than Pd and tartaric acid (or ascorbic acid) used as separate modifiers. The mixed modifier can effectively eliminate matrix effects and the two peak signals observed in the atomization of complex environmental samples. It has also been found that a W-foil platform has a longer lifetime than a Ta-foil platform. A comparison of the calculated and experimental values obtained for the characteristic mass, m₀, with a W-foil platform in a pyrolytic graphite coated graphite tube using a mixed modifier shows that an atomization temperature higher than T(set)= 1673 K and T(effective)= 1530 K can be used for the determination of Cd. Quantitative analytical 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, soils and rock) by standardless analysis are presented (LOD = 0.3pg; RSD < 5%).