SORPTION-ATOMIC-ABSORPTION DETERMINATION OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IN SOIL

A highly sensitive rapid flow sorption-atomic-absorption technique has been developed for the determination of cadmium and lead in neutral a nd acid soil extractions as well as in the solutions obtained after th e autoclave decomposition of soil samples. The analytical procedure is automated and includes the preconcentration of metals on microcolumns packed with DETATA sorbent, the direct desorption of metals into the spectrometer atomizer, and the recording of the analytical signal. The detection limits of cadmium and lead are 0.1 and 5.0 mu g/l, respecti vely, after the preconcentration of solutions for 60 s and the atomiza tion in the propane-butane-air flame.