GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR FOR AUTOMATED HYDRIDE GENERATION AND ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

A straightforward phase separator for continuous hydride generation wa s developed. The separator uses a small plastic syringe that minimizes the typical dead volume of conventional separators and avoids analyte losses by adsorption on glass, The device is simple and easy to fit t o any FI system. It was used for the AAS determination of selenium, wi th a detection limit of 6.5 mu g 1(-1). The method has a reproducibili ty of 2-3% expressed as the relative standard deviation.