Smith-Hieftje technique

Similar to Zeeman AAS, the Smith-Hieftje technique can be used for lines over the entire spectral range, and uses only one primary radiation source, so that alignment and stability are optimum. The technique is simple and much cheaper than Zeeman AAS. It does not suffer from limitations due to Zeeman splitting of molecular bands. However, as self-reversal is not complete, the technique can be used only for rather low background absorbance, sensitivity is decreased as the... 

Maia et al. [332] eliminated interferences in the direct determination of Hg in powdered coal samples by means of analyte transfer during the pyrolysis step from the platform to a graphite tube wall. This graphite tube was permanently modified with Pd, and detection limits in the range of 0.025-0.05 pg/g were obtained. In simultaneous multi-element determinations of Cu, Cr, Al, and Mn in urine, Pd was also very successfully used as a matrix modifier [333]. The use of Pd as a modifier, and also in combination with dynamic background correction techniques such as the Smith-Hieftje technique (see Section 4.6.3), enables a considerable enhancement of the analytical accuracy of AAS, as shown in the case of As determinations [334]. 

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