ANALYTE TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN ELECTROTHERMAL VAPORIZATION FLAME ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY

A tantalum filament electrothermal vaporization device is described fo r sample introduction into an atomic absorption spectrometer. The samp le transport process of the system was investigated with respect to at om formation efficiency and size of particles transported from the vap orizer to the flame. The transport efficiency of the analyte was found to be strongly dependent on the sample matrix. Circumstances leading to the association of the analyte with a highly dispersed aerosol resu lts in enhanced absorbance. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.