Determination of thallium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a metal atomizer

Abstract

Electrothermal atomization of thallium in a molybdenum microtube atomizer is described. The addition of a low flow rate of hydrogen to argon purge gas resulted in higher peak absorption. In the presence of thiourea the addition of hydrogen did not alter the peak absorption value in pure argon, although the peak temperature shifted to lower region. A high heating rate of the atomizer was recommended for higher peak absorption and improvement of interferences from concomitants. The interferences by concomitants at 50 ng level were modified with thiourea. Modification with thiourea was effective even for interferences from 500 ng of cadmium, zinc or copper, while it was insufficient for 500 ng of calcium, magnesium, chromium, bismuth or lead. Provided the atomization of thallium was carried out at high heating rate and on addition of thiourea as a matrix modifier, the interference from chloride (500 ng) was modified. The absolute sensitivity (0.0044 abs) for thallium was 1.2 pg.