Application of modified simplex on the development of a preconcentration system for cadmium determination in sediments, food and cigarettes.

A modified simplex algorithm was used to optimize a system of preconcentration for cadmium determination in samples of sediments, cigarettes and food using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The preconcentration system is based on the sorption of cadmium in a minicolumn packed with Amberlite XAD-2 resin functionalized with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB). The optimized variables were pH and sampling flow rate and the optimum conditions found for these variables were, respectively 8.