Nonselective attenuation of light in atomic-absorption and atomic-fluorescence analysis (review)

Abstract

The rapid development of the technique of flameless atomization has created the possibility during the last decade of direct atomic-absorptio n analysis (AAA) and atomic-fluoresce nce analysis (A FA) of the majority of the elements of the periodic system in various matrices, including solid samples [1, 2]. Such analysis is characterized by a low detection limit and also by the absence of processing or by minimal preliminary processing of the samples. However, the development of effective methods for the correction of different kinds of interference was necessary to guarantee high accuracy and reliability of the analysis. Different methods of correcting interference have been discussed in the foreign literature in [3-7], but due to the significant progress in this area in recent years they do not completely reflect the real situation. In the USSR, researchers [8-11] are devoted to some particular problems of taking interference into account; however, there are no generalizing communications. In addition, data on the correction of interference in A FA are not reflected in the references cited, although the correction methods in AAA and AFA are similar. The goal of this review is a critical discussion and evaluation of the prospects for the use of contemporary methods of correcting for nonselective attenuation* (NA) of light in AA and AF analysis.