Atomic absorption spectroscopy involves producing free atoms from a sample solution so that they can absorb light from a hollow cathode lamp. The sample is first nebulized into an aerosol and introduced into a flame. In the flame, the solvent evaporates, the sample liquefies and vaporizes, and heat then dissociates the vaporized sample into free atoms. Light from the hollow cathode lamp passes through the flame and is absorbed by the free atoms. The amount of absorption is measured and correlated to the original sample concentration. Key components of the system include the nebulizer, flame burner, monochromator to select the analytical wavelength, and photomultiplier detector.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy involves producing free atoms from a sample solution so that they can absorb light from a hollow cathode lamp. The sample is first nebulized into an aerosol and introduced into a flame. In the flame, the solvent evaporates, the sample liquefies and vaporizes, and heat then dissociates the vaporized sample into free atoms. Light from the hollow cathode lamp passes through the flame and is absorbed by the free atoms. The amount of absorption is measured and correlated to the original sample concentration. Key components of the system include the nebulizer, flame burner, monochromator to select the analytical wavelength, and photomultiplier detector.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy involves producing free atoms from a sample solution so that they can absorb light from a hollow cathode lamp. The sample is first nebulized into an aerosol and introduced into a flame. In the flame, the solvent evaporates, the sample liquefies and vaporizes, and heat then dissociates the vaporized sample into free atoms. Light from the hollow cathode lamp passes through the flame and is absorbed by the free atoms. The amount of absorption is measured and correlated to the original sample concentration. Key components of the system include the nebulizer, flame burner, monochromator to select the analytical wavelength, and photomultiplier detector.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy involves producing free atoms from a sample solution so that they can absorb light from a hollow cathode lamp. The sample is first nebulized into an aerosol and introduced into a flame. In the flame, the solvent evaporates, the sample liquefies and vaporizes, and heat then dissociates the vaporized sample into free atoms. Light from the hollow cathode lamp passes through the flame and is absorbed by the free atoms. The amount of absorption is measured and correlated to the original sample concentration. Key components of the system include the nebulizer, flame burner, monochromator to select the analytical wavelength, and photomultiplier detector.
Environmental Engineering J12ANM Analytical Measurement Lecture 1: Part II Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy How are atoms are ions produced? 2 Keywords: Atomisation Nebulisation Aerosol Light Source: Hollow Cathode Lamp The hollow cathode lamp is an excellent, bright-line source which is available for most of the elements determinable by atomic absorption. The cathode of the lamp is a hollowed-out cylinder of the metal whose spectrum is to be produced. The anode and cathode are sealed in a glass cylinder normally filled with either argon or neon at low pressure. A window transparent to the emitted radiation is fused to the end of the cylinder. 3 The emission process When an electrical potential is applied between anode and cathode, some of the fill gas atoms are ionised. The positively charged fill gas ions accelerate through the electrical field to collide with the negatively charged cathode and dislodge individual metal atoms in a process called 'sputtering'. Sputtered metal atoms are then excited to an emission state through the kinetic energy transfer by impact with fill gas ions. 4 Nebuliser and Spray Chamber 5 Nebulisers and Burner Heads Nebulisers are constructed from a corrosion resistant material, such as: Plastic, or, platinum-Iridium. Burner heads are constructed of titanium to provide extreme resistance to heat and corrosion. An alternative way to increase the linear working range is to rotate the burner through a fixed amount. This, in effect, decreases the path length that the analytical beam interacts with the atom cloud and thus desensitises the analysis. This approach to extending the linear working range will almost always have a detrimental affect on the detection limit. 6 Nebuliser Detail 7 The flame process 8 M + + A - (Solution) 1) Nebulisation M + + A - (Aerosol) 2) Desolvation MA (Solid) 3) Liquefaction MA (Liquid) 4) Vaporisation MA (Gas) 5) Atomisation M o + A o (Gas) 6) Excitation M* (Gas) 7) Ionisation M + + e - (Gas) Atomic absorption process In order to get the atomic absorption process to occur, we must produce individual atoms from our sample which starts out as a solution of ions. 1. First, by the process of nebulisation, we aspirate the sample into the burner chamber, where it mixes as a fine aerosol with the fuel and oxidant gases. At this point, the metals are still in solution in the fine aerosol droplets. 2. As these minute droplets pass into the flame, the process of evaporation or desolvation removes the solvent and leaves tiny solid particles of sample material. 3. As more heat is applied, liquefaction takes place, and additional heat will vaporise the sample. 4. At this point the metal of interest (analyte), is still bound up with some anion to form a molecule which does not exhibit the atomic absorption phenomenon we wish to measure. 5. By applying still more heat energy, this molecule is dissociated into individual atoms which make it up. 9 Since the thermal energy from the flame is responsible for producing the absorbing species, flame temperature is an important parameter governing the flame process. Two premixed flames are now used almost exclusively for atomic absorption: air-acetylene (2125-2400 o C), and nitrous oxide-acetylene (2600-2800 o C). The number of ground state metal atoms formed in step 5 of the flame process will determine the amount of light absorbed. Concentration is determined by comparing the absorbance of the sample to that of known standard concentrations. The relationship between the number of atoms in the flame and the concentration of analyte in solution is governed by the flame process. If any constituent of the sample alters one or more steps of this process from the performance observed for the standard, an interference will exist, and an erroneous concentration measurement will result if the interference is not recognised and corrected or compensated for. 10 Flame: Burner 11 Wavelength Selectors 12 Prism Incident radiation Monochromatic radiation Monochromators 13 Light from the source must be focused on the sample cell and directly to the monochromator: wavelengths of light are dispersed, and the analytical line of interest is focused onto the detector. Wavelength dispersion is accomplished with a grating: i.e. a reflective surface ruled with many fine parallel lines very close together. Reflection from this ruled surface generates an interference phenomenon known as diffraction, in which wavelengths of light diverge from the grating at different angles. Light from the source enters the monochromator at the entrance slit and is directed to the grating where diffraction takes place. The diverging wavelengths of light are directed toward the exit slit. By adjusting the angle of the grating, a selected emission line from the source can be allowed to pass through the exit slit and fall onto the detector. All other lines are blocked from exiting. 14 Detector: Photomultiplier Tube 15 Mad as a Hatter!! 16