Technique for Determining Nickel in Blood by Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

We describe a technique for determining nickel in serum by flameless atomic absorption, with use of di methylglyoxime. The procedure permits a greater num ber of analyses per technician at a relatively low cost, yet provides acceptable accuracy and reliability. After the sample is evaporated and dry ashed in a muffle fur nace at 560 #{ 176} C for 5 h, the residual salts are dissolved in hydrochloric acid (1 mol/liter). Sodium citrate and di methylglyoxlme are then added for complexation of iron and nickel, respectively. The pH is adjusted to 9 with ammonia and the nickel dimethylglyoxime is extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone. The determination is carried out by injecting 50 µl of the organic phase into the graphite furnace, where the sample is dried at 120 °C and ashed at 1200 °C, respectively.