Determination of cadmium in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after extraction with 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridylmethylene) thiocarbonohydrazide.

An inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric method for the determination of trace amounts of cadmium after extraction of the metal into isobutyl methyl ketone containing 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridylmethylene) thiocarbonohydrazide is described. The optimum extraction conditions were evaluated from a critical study of the effects of pH, concentration of extractant, shaking time and ionic strength. The detection limit for cadmium is 0.1 ng ml-1 and the calibration is linear from 0.2 to 140 ng ml-1. The relative standard deviation for ten replicate measurements is 2.9% for 2 ng ml-1 of cadmium. Results from the analysis of some certified biological reference materials are given.