Electrothermal atomization samples

Micro-pipetting instruments such as the "Eppendorf or "Oxford pipettors with disposable plastic cone tips are customarily employed to dispense the liquid samples into electrothermal atomizers. Sampling problems which are associated with the use of these pipettors are among the troublesome aspects of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (67,75). The plastic cone-tips are frequently contaminated with metals, and they should invariably be cleaned before use by soaking in dilute "ultra pure nitric acid, followed by multiple rinses with demineralized water which has been distilled in a quartz still. 

Analysis of Solids with Electrothermal Atomizers In most methods based on electrothermal atomizers, samples are introduced as solutions. Several reports, however, have described the use of this type of atomizer for the direct analysis of solid samples. One way of performing such measurements is to weigh the finely ground sample into a graphite boat and insert the boat into the furnace manually. A second way is to prepare a slurry of the powdered sample by ultrasonic agitation in an aqueous medium. The slurry is then pipetted into the furnace for atomization. ... 

Atomization The most important difference between a spectrophotometer for atomic absorption and one for molecular absorption is the need to convert the analyte into a free atom. The process of converting an analyte in solid, liquid, or solution form to a free gaseous atom is called atomization. In most cases the sample containing the analyte undergoes some form of sample preparation that leaves the analyte in an organic or aqueous solution. For this reason, only the introduction of solution samples is considered in this text. Two general methods of atomization are used flame atomization and electrothermal atomization. A few elements are atomized using other methods. 

An electrothermal atomizer that relies on resistive heating to atomize samples. 

Atomic absorption using either flame or electrothermal atomization is widely used for the analysis of trace metals in a variety of sample matrices. Using the atomic absorption analysis for zinc as an example, procedures have been developed for its determination in samples as diverse as water and wastewater, air, blood, urine, muscle... 

Scale of Operation Atomic absorption spectroscopy is ideally suited for the analysis of trace and ultratrace analytes, particularly when using electrothermal atomization. By diluting samples, atomic absorption also can be applied to minor and major analytes. Most analyses use macro or meso samples. The small volume requirement for electrothermal atomization or flame microsampling, however, allows the use of micro, or even ultramicro samples. 

Accuracy When spectral and chemical interferences are minimized, accuracies of 0.5-5% are routinely possible. With nonlinear calibration curves, higher accuracy is obtained by using a pair of standards whose absorbances closely bracket the sample s absorbance and assuming that the change in absorbance is linear over the limited concentration range. Determinate errors for electrothermal atomization are frequently greater than that obtained with flame atomization due to more serious matrix interferences. 

Precision For absorbances greater than 0.1-0.2, the relative standard deviation for atomic absorption is 0.3-1% for flame atomization, and 1-5% for electrothermal atomization. The principal limitation is the variation in the concentration of free-analyte atoms resulting from a nonuniform rate of aspiration, nebulization, and atomization in flame atomizers, and the consistency with which the sample is heated during electrothermal atomization. 

Gran plot a linearized form of a titration curve, (p. 293) graphite furnace an electrothermal atomizer that relies on resistive heating to atomize samples, (p. 414) gravimetry any method in which the signal is a mass or change in mass. (p. 233)... 

COMPARISON OF MICROWAVE ASSISTED EXTRACTION METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENTS IN SOIL SAMPLES BY ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY AFTER PHASE SEPARATION-EXTRACTION... 

Acar 0, Kn ic Z, Turker AR (1999) Determination of bismuth, indium and lead in geological and sea-water samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with nickel containing chemical modifiers. Anal Chim Acta 382 329-338. 

The collection behaviour of chromium species was examined as follows. Seawater (400 ml) spiked with 10-8 M Crm, CrVI, and Crm organic complexes labelled with 51Cr was adjusted to the desired pH by hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. An appropriate amount of hydrated iron (III) or bismuth oxide was added the oxide precipitates were prepared separately and washed thoroughly with distilled water before use [200]. After about 24 h, the samples were filtered on 0.4 pm nucleopore filters. The separated precipitates were dissolved with hydrochloric acid, and the solutions thus obtained were used for /-activity measurements. In the examination of solvent extraction, chromium was measured by using 51Cr, while iron and bismuth were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The decomposition of organic complexes and other procedures were also examined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. 

A typical measurement was performed as follows. The feeder was lowered into the crucible and the sample solution (seawater) was allowed to flow under an inert atmosphere with the suction on. A constant current was applied for a predetermined time. When the pre-electrolysis was over, the flow was changed from the sample to the ammonium acetate washing solution, while the deposited metals were maintained under cathodic protection. Ammonium acetate was selected for its low decomposition temperature, and a 0.2 ml 1 1 concentration was used to ensure sufficient conductivity. At this point the feeder tip was raised to the highest position and the usual steps for an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry measurement were followed drying for 30 s at 900 C, ashing for 30 s at 700 °C, and atomization for 8 s at 1700 °C, with measurement at 283.3 nm. The baseline increases smoothly with time as a consequence of an upward lift of the crucible caused by thermal expansion of the material. 

Chakraborti et al. [665] determined cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, and lead in seawater by chelation with diethyldithiocarbamate from a 500 ml sample, extraction into carbon tetrachloride, evaporation to dryness, and redissolution in nitric acid prior to determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in amounts ranging from 10 pg (cadmium) to 250 pg (nickel). 

Chang et al. [952] used a miniature column packed with a chelating resin and an automatic online preconcentration system for electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry to determine cadmium, cobalt, and nickel in seawater. Detection limits of 0.12,7 and 35 ng/1 were achieved for cadmium, cobalt, and nickel, respectively, with very small sample volume required (400-1800 xl). 

Electrothermal atomizers produce an atomic vapour by rapid heating of the sample. 

Conventional flame techniques present problems when dealing with either small or solid samples and in order to overcome these problems the electrothermal atomization technique was developed. Electrothermal, or flameless, atomizers are electrically heated devices which produce an atomic vapour (Figure 2.36). One type of cuvette consists of a graphite tube which has a small injection port drilled in the top surface. The tube is held between electrodes, which supply the current for heating and are also water-cooled to return the tube rapidly to an ambient temperature after atomization. 

Although electrothermal atomizers have certain advantages, they are slower than flame techniques particularly when large numbers of samples have to be analysed, and the transient readings which result from such methods may show poorer precision than do the steady readings obtained by sample aspiration. 

The measurement of very low levels of environmental pollutants is becoming increasingly important. The determination of lead, a cumulative toxin, is a good example. The current maximum allowable concentration of lead in British drinking water, before it enters the distribution network, is SO ng ml [29]. Although electrothermal atomization atomic-absorption spectrometry (AAS) can be used to measure this and lower concentrations, it is slow and requires considerable effort to ensure accurate results. Flames can provide simple and effective atom sources, but, if samples are aspirated directly, do not provide sufficient sensitivity. Thus, if a flame is to be used as the atom source, a preconcentration step is required. 

Volume 1 consists of chapters covering the development. Instrumentation, and results of a wide range of materials, including background correction lasers, inductively coupled-mass sp>ectroscopy plasmas, electrothermal vaporizers, sample introduction, and Fourier transform atomic spectrocopy. 

One often unsuspected source of error can arise from interference by the substances originating in the sample which are present in addition to the analyte, and which are collectively termed the matrix. The matrix components could enhance, diminish or have no effect on the measured reading, when present within the normal range of concentrations. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry is particularly susceptible to this type of interference, especially with electrothermal atomization. Flame AAS may also be affected by the flame emission or absorption spectrum, even using ac modulated hollow cathode lamp emission and detection (Faithfull, 1971b, 1975). 

After insertion or injection of the sample into the electrothermal atomizer, the temperature profile with ramp heating drown ... 

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