Determination of Cadmium, Cobalt, Manganese, Copper, Nickel, and Chromium in Concentrated Solutions of Calcium Chloride by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A procedure is developed for the direct determination of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni in concentrated solutions of calcium chloride by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Ascorbic and oxalic acids and magnesium nitrate were examined as chemical modifiers. Oxalic acid was found to be the best modifier. Although an atomic absorption spectrometer with a background correction system of relatively low efficiency (deuterium lamp) was used, the elements under study can be reliably determined in the presence of oxalic acid at concentrations of calcium chloride in the solution up to 6%. Because cadmium is evaporated before the major part of the given matrix, it can be determined without a modifier.