Electrothermal atomic-absorption and atomic-fluorescence spectrometry with a tungsten-coil atomizer

Abstract

A pulsed electrothermal atomizer of the tungsten-coil type and apparatus for its application in atomic-absorption and atomic-fluorescence spectrometry are described. A tungsten-coil atomizer is shown to be just as good as commercial electrothermal atomizers with regard to sensitivity and reproducibility, but to have better operating characteristics. A theoretical model for formation of the atom cloud is given. Mechanisms for atomization of different groups of element in an atmosphere of pure argon and in the presence of reductants (hydrogen and carbon) are proposed.