Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry with an Eimac Continuum Excitation Source and a Graphite Filament Atomizer

Abstract

A graphite filament atomizer is used to produce atoms for a variety of elements, and the resulting atomic vapor is excited by means of an Eimac xenon arc continuum source. The resulting atomic fluorescence is measured by a conventional atomic fluorescence spectrometric instrumental system. Relative and absolute detection limits (sample size of 0.5 to 1.0 µl) are in the range of 2 × 10⁻⁴ to 0.1 µg/ml and 0.2 to 50 pg, respectively, for Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, and Zn. Relative standard deviations (for four measurements) range from 0.03 to 0.07 for all of the above. The atomic fluorescence spectrometric system is simple and inexpensive to construct, simple to operate, and useful for a wide variety of elements without the need of changing any instrumental component or parameter other than the wavelength of the monochromator and possibly the conditions of atomization.