CHEMICAL MODIFICATION FOR THE DETERMINATION OF BISMUTH BY ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY WITH ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIZATION

A mixture of nickel and copper nitrates and diammonium EDTA is suitable as a chemical modifier for the determination of bismuth by atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace. The nickel and copper nitrates act as a thermal stabilizer for the analyte in the furnace before atomization. As chloride formation by bismuth and other metal ions is masked by EDTA, chloride interference can also be removed. The addition of this chemical modifier was applied to the direct determination of trace bismuth in aluminium.