Cp. Calloway et Bt. Jones, ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY WITH A FLAME EMISSION SOURCE, Spectrochimica acta, Part B: Atomic spectroscopy, 49(12-14), 1994, pp. 1707-1715
An atomic absorption spectrometer with flame atomization and a flame e
mission light source is described. The light source is prepared by asp
irating a solution containing a high concentration of analyte into the
emission flame. Two different source flames (air/acetylene and nitrou
s oxide/acetylene) have been evaluated, with the N2O flame providing b
etter signal to noise ratios (S/N) in most cases. Source S/N values as
high as 5900 (Cr) have been observed. Experimental parameters have be
en optimized for nine test elements to give limits of detection obtain
ed with this system that are in some cases as good as those obtained w
ith the traditional hollow cathode lamp source; for example, Cu (4 ng/
ml), Mn (3 ng/ml) and Ni (5 ng/ml). Linear dynamic ranges typically sp
an 2-3 orders of magnitude. This system offers an inexpensive emission
source with the ability to quickly change the setup to accommodate di
fferent analytes.