Use of membrane micropumps for introducing the sample solution in flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The advantages of using membrane micropumps to introduce sample or standard solutions in flame atomic absorption spectrometry are discussed, using two entirely computer-controlled manifolds which allow a wide range of dispersion coefficients to be obtained. Coupling micropumps to the manifold facilitates calibration graphs to be obtained using a single standard solution. Other advantages include a handy on-line dilution stage for excessively concentrated samples as well as the possibility of obtaining pulsed absorbance–time profiles that once submitted to the Fourier transformation, provide amplitude–frequency plots representing an innovative, not yet fully exploited vision of atomic absorption analytical data.