Atomic absorption spectrometric and potentiometric microdetermination of the nitro and nitroso groups in organic compounds

New simple, rapid, accurate, and selective methods are described for microdetermination of the nitro and nitroso groups in organic compounds. These are based on reduction with cadmium metal and 0.05 M HCl whereby 6 and 4 equivalents of the cadmium ions are released per nitro and nitroso groups, respectively. The cadmium ions are measured by atomic absorption spectrometry at 228.8 nm, potentiometrically by titration with EDTA using the cadmium ion selective electrode, and visually by EDTA titration using Eriochrome Black T indicator. Results with an average recovery of 98% and a mean standard deviation of 1.3% are obtainable and no interferences are caused by many nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur functional groups.