Double preconcentration of trace amounts of cadmium in nail samples and measurement by differential pulse voltammetry

Cadion was coated on carbon powder and used as a solid phase for selective extraction and preconcentration of cadmium ions. Complexed cadmium ions were eluted from solid phase by 5 mL, nitric acid (2.0 M) with the flow rate of 2 mL min(-1).The resulted solution was used for accumulation of the cadmium metal at the surface of the carbon paste electrode at -1.3 V reduction potential. Finally, cadmium was reoxidized and the differential pulse voltammogram recorded at the potential range of -0.55 to -0.2 V. Calibration graph was plotted in the concentration range of 0.5-50 μg L(-1) of cadmium. Detection limit 0.06 μg L(-1) was calculated based on the 3 Sb/m. The RSD was 9.13 % (n = 4) for cadmium concentration of 10 μg L(-1) with preconcentration factor of 100. Method was successfully used for the determination of cadmium in finger nail samples and after spiking the samples, the recoveries were evaluated >96 %.