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8233996 
Journal Article 
Analysis of cobalt in plasma by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry 
Andersen, I; Høgetveit, AC 
1984 
0 
Fresenius' Zeitschrift für Analytische Chemie
ISSN: 0016-1152 
SPRINGER VERLAG 
NEW YORK 
318 
1 
41-44 
English 
WOS:A1984ST63000010 
A method for the determination of traces of cobalt in plasma is described. The sample is digested in a test tube using a mixture of nitric and perchloric acid. Ammonium-pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate is added as chelating agent, and after pH-adjustment to pH 9±0.1, cobalt is extracted into methyl-isobutyl ketone. Recovery studies using Co-60 showed that losses of cobalt during the procedure, including digestion and extraction are less than 3%. Possible contamination from the steel needle used is tested and discussed. The coefficient of variation for the method is 9.5% at the 0.20 μg/l level. A realistic determination limit following this procedure is estimated to be 0.06 μg/l. Using this method, the cobalt concentration in plasma from 32 control persons was determined to 0.15 ±0.07 μg/l. For 10 refinery workers daily exposed to aerosols of CoCl2 the determined average was 9.7±7.1 μg/l. © 1984 Springer-Verlag.