Indirect FAAS Determination of Nicotine in Tobacco Based on Formation of Cu(Ⅱ)-Nicotine Coordination Complex

In a medium of pH 6.1-6.3, a coordination complex was formed by the reaction of Cu(Ⅱ) and nicotine, and the co-ordinate ratio between nicotine and Cu(Ⅱ) was identified to be 2∶1 by HPLC. The coordination complex was characterized by IR and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The content of nicotine in tobacco was determined indirectly by AAS determination of amount of Cu(Ⅱ) remained after the complexing reaction.