Preconcentration procedures for trace cadmium determination in natural aqueous systems prior to Zeeman ETAAS

Nanotrace Cd determination in natural waters using two new flotation collectors, lead(II) heptyldithiocarbamate, Pb(HpDTC)(2) , and cobalt(III) heptyldithiocarbamate, Co(HpDTC)(3) , are presented. The optimization of the most important experimental parameters for flotation is given. Zeeman electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ZETAAS) is used as an instrumental technique for Cd measurement. The results are compared with those obtained by other preconcentration procedures as independent methods. The limit of detection of ZETAAS using Pb(HpDTC)(2) as collector is 4.8 ng/L, while using Co(HpDTC)(3) it is 3.0 ng/L.