Polarographic trace analysis of copper, lead and cadmium

The area of study for this project was the development of an accurate, reliable, and inexpensive method of trace analysis for copper, cadmium, and lead in foods. AT this time, the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Manual, eleventh edition, (4) has only official and recognized methods of analysis for copper (25.023), cadmium (25.018), and lead (25.041). In general, these procedures are long and tedious. The digestions involved often require many hours and are quite dangerous due to leakage of metallic and organometallic fumes from the digestion apparatus. The official methods of analysis for these elements require a very large outlay of money for special equipment and reagents. It was the purpose of this project to determine the following: (A) The feasibility of using polarographic detection for copper, cadmium, and lead in trace amounts.; (B) Fina da new method of sample decomposition to replace the present digestion methods.; (C) Study the selection media prior to polarographic detection.; (D) Develop a method of simultaneous polarographic detection of copper, cadmium, and lead