“…Cd(II)−PDCA solutions in the pH range 3.7−5.1 were buffered with 5 × 10 -3 mol dm -3 acetic acid (Prolabo, Rectapur)/sodium acetate (Janssen Chimica, pure), and buffering at pH 6.0 was effected with 0.01 mol dm -3 (2-( N -morpholino)-ethanesulfonic acid (MES, Fluka, MicroSelect, ≥99.5%). Acetate and MES have low affinity for Cd(II), and, in the presence of PDCA, there is negligible complexation by the buffer components: for acetate, the stability constants for Cd(II) complexation are log K 1 = 1.26, log K 2 = 0.74, and log K 3 = 0.70, and no binding of Cd(II) by MES was observed up to buffer concentrations of 0.1 mol dm -3 . Ni(II)−bicine solutions in the pH range 7.0−7.8 were buffered with Na 2 HPO 4 (Fluka, MicroSelect, >99.0%)/KH 2 PO 4 (Fluka, puriss p.a., >99.5%), and solutions at pH 8.3 were buffered with 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (Tris buffer, Fluka, BioChemika, >99.0%).…”