Critical comparison of sources and detection methods in atomic spectrometry

Abstract

Over the past three decades, the nature of atomic spectrometric analysis has changed dramatically. In the 1960's, flame and furnace atomic absorption were dominant, with furnace techniques gradually achieving prominence. In contrast, the 1970's witnessed the introduction of the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and the direct current plasma (DCP). Although the ICP is still the most frequently used excitation source, the decade of the 1980's has seen a resurgence of interest in the glow-discharge lamp (GDL) and the microwave-induced plasma (MIP). Today, novel sources are continually being introduced, supported by combinations of gas mixtures and operated alternatively at DC, microwave or radio frequencies. These advances must be assessed against the backdrop of more unconventional atom-formation techniques that involve the use of high-powered lasers, rare-gas sputtering systems, or tandem (coupled) sources.