The use of dithizone extraction and atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of cadmium,zinc, copper,nickel and cobalt in rocks and sediments

A method is presented for the determination of cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel and cobalt in sediments. The sediments are digested with hydrofluoric, sulphuric and perchloric acids. The metals are extracted into dithizone. Cadmium and zinc are back-extracted into dilute hydrochloric acid, but the other metals are determined in a solution prepared after the destruction of the organic extract. The method has been applied to USGS rock reference samples and to estuarine sediments.