UV photochemical generation of volatile cadmium species

Photochemical generation of a volatile molecular Cd species from an acetic acid medium was accomplished using a thin film generator comprising a 20 W low pressure UV source. Argon gas was used to sweep the product vapor to a quartz tube atomizer heated to 900 degrees C. No signal was generated below about 770 degrees C and optimum atomization conditions required addition of 10% hydrogen to the Ar transfer gas, indicative of a thermochemical atomization process similar to that undergone for metal hydrides. UV generation efficiency exceeded 90% but the transfer of the analyte to the detector was problematic and precision of measurement was near 30% RSD. Despite such conditions, an estimated limit of detection was 2 mu g l(-1).