Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometric Determination of Cadmium in Pure Copper

An anion exchange-sequential injection hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometric procedure was specifically developed for the determination of ultra-trace cadmium in pure copper forbidden by the Restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS). A 50 mg l−1 copper concentration was employed in the standard solutions to match the copper matrix in the samples. In the presence of an appropriate amount of hydrochloric acid, the copper matrix was effectively eliminated by selectively absorbing the CdCl42– complex onto a 717 anion exchanger packed mini-column. The present procedure could be used for the determination of cadmium in pure copper with a Cu/Cd mass ratio within the range of 2000–50000. A detection limit of 0.2 μg l−1 was achieved within a linear range of 1.0–25.0 μ g l−1, along with a RSD value of 3.0% (at 3.0 μ g l−1). The procedure was applied for the determination of cadmium in a pure copper sample, and spiking recoveries were also performed.