Chemical modifiers in the determination of molybdenum in human serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary Various modifiers were investigated for the molybdenum determination in human serum samples by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry. Methods with magnesium nitrate, barium difluoride, nitric acid, palladium-magnesium nitrate and palladium-hydroxylamine were studied by introducing the serum samples directly into the graphite furnace with 0.2% triton X-100. The mineralisation and atomization curves, the amount of modifier and the calibration and addition graphs were studied in all instances. The characteristic masses were 18, 22, 17, 12 and 13 pg of molybdenum for magnesium nitrate, barium difluoride, nitric acid, palladium-magnesium nitrate and palladium-hydroxylamine, respectively. The precision, accuracy and interferences of the methods were also investigated.