Field instrumentation in atomic spectroscopy

The techniques of field analytical chemistry (FAC) have the potential to re duce both analysis time and cost by providing analytical data on site while eliminating the need for sample collection and transport. These methods co uld be of considerable interest in the fields of environmental monitoring a nd industrial process control. Much of FAC is accomplished through the use of portable analytical instruments. The emphasis of this review was on fiel d-portable atomic spectrometry, with particular focus upon two techniques: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and tungsten coil atomic absorp tion spectrometry (W Coil AAS). LIBS and W Coil AAS have been described in detail, with special attention to instrumentation, analytical performance, applications and examples of portable devices. The two techniques were comp ared and found to be complimentary. Competing technology, not necessarily b ased upon atomic spectrometry, was also briefly discussed in order to provi de a glimpse of the overall picture of FAC techniques used for the determin ation of metals. These rival techniques include X-ray fluorescence spectrom etry (XRF), immunoassay, capillary electrophoresis (CE), and electrochemica l sensors. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.