Comparison of dry and wet ashing procedures for cadmium and iron determination in biological material by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.
A possible loss of cadmium and iron from the sample during dry ashing of the kidney, liver or carcase was examined by the radioactive isotope labelling technique. Cadmium-115 m or iron-59 was administered to rats 4-7 days before the rats were killed and samples collected. Dry ashing in different types of dishes and wet digestion with nitric acid were compared. There was no loss of cadmium or iron by volatilization during dry ashing at 600 degrees or 450 degrees respectively, but a significant amount of iron was bound on glass or porcelain crucibles. Storage of ashed and dissolved samples (in 10 nitric acid) did not show any change of cadmium or iron concentration up to 9 days.
Blanusa
M
M
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Breski
D
D