Flame atomizer

Rgure 6.9 Basic AAS system. [ 1993-2014 PerkinElmer, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed with permission. 

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With the exception of alkalis, the sensitivity is generally higher than that of atomic absorption (at least flame atomic absorption). Refer to Table 2.4. 

FLAME ATOMIC EMISSION, FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION,... 

The detection limits in the table correspond generally to the concentration of an element required to give a net signal equal to three times the standard deviation of the noise (background) in accordance with lUPAC recommendations. Detection limits can be confusing when steady-state techniques such as flame atomic emission or absorption, and plasma atomic emission or fluorescence, which... 

Element Wavelength, nm Flame emission Flame atomic absorption Electrothermal atomic absorption Argon ICP Plasma atomic fluorescence... 

The section on Spectroscopy has been retained but with some revisions and expansion. The section includes ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray spectrometry. Detection limits are listed for the elements when using flame emission, flame atomic absorption, electrothermal atomic absorption, argon induction coupled plasma, and flame atomic fluorescence. Nuclear magnetic resonance embraces tables for the nuclear properties of the elements, proton chemical shifts and coupling constants, and similar material for carbon-13, boron-11, nitrogen-15, fluorine-19, silicon-19, and phosphoms-31. 

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. 

Flame atomization assembly equipped with spray chamber and slot burner. The inset shows the nebulizer assembly. 

Thermal energy in flame atomization is provided by the combustion of a fuel-oxidant mixture. Common fuels and oxidants and their normal temperature ranges are listed in Table 10.9. Of these, the air-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames are used most frequently. Normally, the fuel and oxidant are mixed in an approximately stoichiometric ratio however, a fuel-rich mixture may be desirable for atoms that are easily oxidized. The most common design for the burner is the slot burner shown in Figure 10.38. This burner provides a long path length for monitoring absorbance and a stable flame. 

Absorbance profile for Ag and Cr in flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. 

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. 

Flame Sources Atomization and excitation in flame atomic emission is accomplished using the same nebulization and spray chamber assembly used in atomic absorption (see Figure 10.38). The burner head consists of single or multiple slots or a Meker-style burner. Older atomic emission instruments often used a total consumption burner in which the sample is drawn through a capillary tube and injected directly into the flame. 

Method for background correction in flame atomic emission. 

Description of Method. Salt substitutes, which are used in place of table salt for individuals on a low-sodium diet, contain KCI. Depending on the brand, fumaric acid, calcium hydrogen phosphate, or potassium tartrate also may be present. Typically, the concentration of sodium in a salt substitute is about 100 ppm. The concentration of sodium is easily determined by flame atomic emission. Because it is difficult to match the matrix of the standards to that of the sample, the analysis is accomplished by the method of standard additions. 

Sensitivity Sensitivity in flame atomic emission is strongly influenced by the temperature of the excitation source and the composition of the sample matrix. Normally, sensitivity is optimized by aspirating a standard solution and adjusting the flame s composition and the height from which emission is monitored until the emission intensity is maximized. Chemical interferences, when present, decrease the sensitivity of the analysis. With plasma emission, sensitivity is less influenced by the sample matrix. In some cases, for example, a plasma calibration curve prepared using standards in a matrix of distilled water can be used for samples with more complex matrices. 

Hobbins reported the following calibration data for the flame atomic absorption analysis for phosphorus. ... 

This experiment describes a fractional factorial design used to examine the effects of flame height, flame stoichiometry, acetic acid, lamp current, wavelength, and slit width on the flame atomic absorbance obtained using a solution of 2.00-ppm Ag+. 

Small concentrations of iron can also be deterrnined by flame atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopies (see... 

The capacity factors of SN-SiO, for metal ions were determined under a range of different conditions of pH, metal ions concentrations and time of interaction. Preconcentration of Cd ", Pb ", Zn " and CvS were used for their preliminary determination by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The optimum pH values for quantitative soi ption ai e 5.8, 6.2, 6.5, 7.0 for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn, respectively. The sorption ability of SN-SiO, to metal ions decrease in line Pb>Cu> >Zn>Cd. The soi ption capacity of the sorbent is 2.7,7.19,11.12,28.49 mg-g Hor Cd, Zn, Pb, andCu, respectively. The sorbent distribution coefficient calculated from soi ption isotherms was 10 ml-g for studied cations. All these metal ions can be desorbed with 5 ml of O.lmole-k HCl (sorbent recovery average out 96-100%). 

In this work, a simple, rapid and sensitive Flame Atomic Absolution Spectrometry (FAAS) method has been developed for the determination of trace amount of Co + in vaiious samples after adsoi ption of its complex on modified Analcime using a Schiff base Bis-[(2,2 -dihydroxy)-N,N -diethylen-triamino-l,r-naphtaldimine] by column method in the pH range (4-7) at flow rats 1 ml-minf... 

The possibility of preconcentration of selenium (IV) by coprecipitation with iron (III) hydroxide and lanthanum (III) hydroxide with subsequent determination by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy has been investigated also. The effect of nature and concentration of collector and interfering ions on precision accuracy and reproducibility of analytical signal A has been studied. Application of FefOH) as copreconcentrant leads to small relative error (less than 5%). S, is 0.1-0.2 for 5-100 p.g Se in the sample. Concentration factor is 6. The effect of concentration of hydrochloric acid on precision and accuracy of AAS determination of Se has been studied. The best results were obtained with HCl (1 1). 

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