Measurement of sub-microgram amounts of nickel in plant material by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy

A sensitive method for the determination of nickel in small plant samples (100–200 mg dry mass) containing sub-microgram amounts of nickel is described. The samples are wet ashed with nitric and perchloric acids in a pressure decomposition vessel, and the nickel complexed with ammonium tetramethylenedithiocarbamate and extracted into a small volume of isobutyl methyl ketone. Nickel is then determined in the extracts by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy.