Flame and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in Environmental Analysis

Abstract

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is a well‐established technique for the quantitative determination of elements in environmental materials at trace and ultratrace levels. AAS is an optical atomic spectrometric technique based on the measurement of the specific absorption originated from the free, unionized atoms in the gas phase. For transferring the analyte to free atoms, different types of atomizers are in use, out of which the flame and the graphite furnace are the most often used atomizers. Typical detection limits of flame AAS (FAAS) are of the order of 1–100 μg L −1 , making it a perfect tool for the determination of minor and trace elements, at least for contaminated samples. Graphite furnace AAS (GFAAS), offering detection limits which are about a factor of 20–200 lower than for FAAS, is the standard method for many trace elements especially for background values, and for unpolluted samples, such as freshwater and biological materials. AAS in its conventional configuration is a single element technique, which has to be used in a sequential mode when more than one element has to be determined. However, there are commercial instruments available, that can be used for the determination of six to eight elements simultaneously. While most manufacturers provide instruments working with line sources, one manufacturer has commercialized high‐resolution instruments working with continuum sources (HRCS‐AAS).

AI Based Model for Prediction of Heavy Metals Using Physio-Chemical Characterization of Agricultural Waste Ashes

“…AAS is a frequently employed method for accurately measuring the concentration of elements in environmental samples, particularly at very low levels [45]. The AAS technique in compliance with [46] was employed to measure the degree of chromium leaching.…”