Studying element vaporization and atomization processes in electrothermal atomizers by laser-excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry: Indium, matrixeffects

Indium vaporization and atomization processes were studied in a variable-pr essure atomizer by laser-excited fluorescence spectrometry for various anal yte masses over a wide range of buffer-gas pressures. It was found that the atomization processes are of intricate nature and depend on the element ma ss, pressure, and heating rate. Based on the data obtained over a wide rang e of pressures, individual atomization processes were singled out and their parameters were determined. The effects of KCl and CuCl2 matrices on the k inetics and other characteristics of the processes were investigated. Possi ble mechanisms of indium vaporization and atomization under various experim ental conditions and mechanisms of matrix effects on the analytical signals of indium and gallium are discussed.