CATALYTIC PROCESSES IN GRAPHITE FURNACES FOR ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

The chemical processes in graphite furnaces used for electrothermal at omic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) are discussed from the viewpoint of catalysis. The main attention is given to consideration of the proc esses which occur in the presence of platinum metal compounds and tran sition metal carbides. It is shown that both these groups of chemical modifiers accelerate either the processes of reduction of inorganic co mpounds or the thermal destruction of organoelement compounds and vola tile hydrides in the graphite furnace. It is assumed that the similari ties in the action of platinum metal compounds and transition metal ca rbides are based on the resemblance of their catalytic properties. The approach proposed may be used both for the improvement of already kno wn chemical modifiers and for the creation of new ones. In general, ad option of the methods and concepts widely applied in catalysis for fun damental investigations of processes in graphite furnaces appears to b e rather useful.