Substoichiometric determination of Cd by neutron activation analysis

A rapid method has been developed for the determination of cadmium in environmental samples by thermal neutron activation analysis involving substoichiometric extraction with 1,2,3-benzotriazole /1,2,3-BT/. Cd was radiochemically separated as CdS using 1-amidino-2-thiourea. The time required for radiochemical purification containing two samples and a standard was about 2 h. 4.63 g of Cd can be determined with an accuracy of 6.69% and precision of 6.25%. Mash potatoes, animal bones, raw sludge and cattle manure have been analyzed by this method.