Determination of trace cadmium in water samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after cloud point extraction

A method based on cloud point extraction (CPE) separation/preconcentration of trace cadmium as a prior step to its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) has been developed. If the system temperature is higher than the cloud point temperature (CPT) of the nonionic surfactant of p-octyl polyethyleneglycolphenyether (Triton X-100), the complex of Cd2+ with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) could be extracted into surfactant-rich phase. The chemical variables affecting CPE were evaluated and optimized. Under the optimumconditions, preconcentrating 10.0 mL of water samples permitted a limit of detection of 5.9 ng center dot L-1 (3 sigma) for cadmium with an enhancement factor of 50 and a relative standard deviation of 2.1% (n = 11, c = 2.0 ng center dot mL(-1)). The method was applied to the determination of cadmium in reference material and water samples with satisfactory results.