Determination of a Trace Amount of Cadmium in Water by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Combined with Ammonium Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate-Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Extraction Using Large Aqueous Phase/Solvent Ratios

Abstract

A trace amount of cadmium of ppb level was determined by aspirating the methyl isobutyl ketone extract using ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate as a chelating agent. When a large aqueous phase/solvent ratio was used, the volume of the organic phase obtained after extraction decreased to a smaller volume compared with the initial volume added because of the appreciable solubility of methyl isobutyl ketone in water. In addition to the solvent effect, this "solubility effect"resulted in much enhanced sensitivity for the determination of cadmium.