Preconcentration of Cadmium in Environmental Samples by Cloud Point Extraction and Determination by FAAS

Cloud point extraction (CPE) has been used for the preconcentration of cadmium, after the formation of a complex with 1, 5-bis(di-2-pyridylmethylene) thiocarbonohydrazide (DPTH), and further determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) using Triton X-114 as surfactant. The main factors affecting the CPE, such as concentration of Triton X-114 and DPTH, pH, equilibration temperature and incubation time, were optimized for the best extract efficiency. Under the optimum conditions i.e., pH 5.4, [DPTH] = 6 × 10%, [Triton X-114] = 0.25% (v/v), an enhancement factor of 10.5 fold was reached. The lower limit of detection (LOD) obtained under the optimal conditions was 0.95 μg L. The precision for 8 replicate determinations at 20 and 100 μgL Cd were 2.4% and 2% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.). The calibration graph using the preconcentration method was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0,998 at levels close to the detection limit up to at least 200 μgL. The method was successfully applied to the determination of cadmium in water, environmental and food samples and in a BCR-176 standard reference material.