Abstract
A new method for probing the kinetics of analyte loss mechanisms occurring during the thermal pretreatment stage of analysis using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry is described. The method involves the monitoring of the relative magnitude of the atomic absorption signal while systematically varying the pretreatment furnace temperature and time. The pre-atomization loss of Cu is discussed. The kinetics of the loss mechanism for Cu appear to be second order with an activation energy of 44 ± 6 kcal/mole.
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