Abstract
An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method has been devised for the determination of microgram quantities of lead and cadmium in soil samples. The method is based upon the solvent extraction of the two metals as iodide complexes from acid extracts (2MHCl) of soil samples which contain 16% (w/v) potassium iodide, into methylisobutyl ketone. The ion-association complexes of lead and cadmium are atomized into an air-acetylene flame. The interference of iron has been investigated. The analytical aspects of the method are discussed.