Chemical vapor generation: Atomic absorption by Ag, Au, Cu, and Zn following reduction of aquo ions with sodium tetrahydroborate(III)

Volatile species of Ag, Au, Cu, Zn, Cd, and As were generated at room tempe rature by the addition of sodium tetrahydroborate(III) to an acidified solu tion of the analytes, The vapor-phase species were rapidly transported to a heated quartz tube atomizer (QTA) for detection by atomic absorption spect rometry. A univariate approach was used to achieve optimized conditions and derive analytical figures of merit. The analytes are released from solutio n as molecular species (likely as metal hydrides) and are (partially) atomi zed in the QTA under nonoptimized conditions. Detection limits range from 1 .8 (Zn) to 420 ng (Au). The efficiency of the generation process is estimat ed to be 92 +/- 4% for An. Loss of analyte during transport to the QTA was minimized through use of the minimum length of narrow-bore Teflon transfer line possible.