Determination of ultra trace amounts of cobalt in fish by graphite furnace Zeeman effect atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method is described for determining stable cobalt concentrations in fish flesh and bone using polarized Zeeman effect graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (ZAAS). Cobalt analysis on freshwater fish flesh samples (10 g dry weight) required predigestion and wet-ashing at 70-80 degrees C. Cobalt is chelated with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and analysed by ZAAS. The mean cobalt content calculated from the standard additions method using three replicate fish flesh samples was 4.23 +/- 1.0 microgram Co. Kg-1 (dry weight). Analyses were also carried out on flesh and bone samples from similar sized fish, of the same species, taken from three area lakes.