Determination of cadmium in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after extraction with 1,5-bis[phenyl-(2-pyridyl)methylene]-thiocarbonohydrazide

A systematic study was made of the optimum conditions for cadmium determination in biological samples by ICP-AES after extraction of the metal into methyl isobutyl ketone containing 1,5-bis[phenyl-(2-pyridyl)methylene]-thiocarbonohydrazide. The maximum volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase was 30 1 for a single-stage extraction of 99–100% of the metal ion. The detection limit was 0.3 ng/ml cadmium, and the calibration was linear from 0.4 to at least 150 ng/ml. No interferences from the elements commonly found in biological materials were observed. A precision of 2.5% (P = 0.05) at the 2 ng/ml level of the metal was achieved. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by analysis of three standard reference materials, giving concentrations of 1.90 ± 0.43, 27.1 ± 1.4 and 2.63 ± 0.38 /g of cadmium, compared with the certified values of 2.20 ± 0.10, 26.3 ± 2.1, and 2.71 ± 0.15 g/g, respectively.