Mechanism of interference elimination by thiourea in electrochemical atomic absorption spectrometry

The mechanism of interference elimination by thiourea in electrothermal atomization is discussed. Activation energies of atomization were measured. The experimental values for bismuth, lead, copper and cadmium were not altered in the presence of concomitants, provided that thiourea was added before atomization. These elements from complexes with thiourea which are converted to sulphides during the charring stage. Atom formation occurs from the sulphides without compound formation between analyte and concomitants.