Simultaneous multielement graphite furnace atomic absorption measurements using a photodiode array detector

Abstract

A photodiode array detector multichannel analyser system has been coupled to a graphite furnace atomizer and tested for simultaneous multielement atomic absorption analysis. Multielement hollow cathode lamps are used as light sources and spectral lines are dispersed through a spectrograph with three selectable gratings. Multiple transmitted spectra are recorded to simultaneously determine the atomic absorption profiles of the analyte elements during the atomization stage. Atomic absorbance of individual elements is obtained by integrating the respective peak areas of the appropriate time-resolved atomic absorption spectra. The obtained sensitivities for Ni-Co-Fe are within the same order of magnitude as those from conventional single element determinations using photomultiplier tube detection. The system has also been applied for simultaneous multielement flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) measurements and it has been demonstrated that background absorption can be readily corrected for both flame and graphite furnace AAS by a two-line method where non-atomic absorption lines can be chosen from the simultaneously recorded spectra.