Determination of tin by non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with a hydride generation technique

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of tin by generation of its hydride using sodium tetrahydroborate(III). This is followed by the introduction of the hydride into a pre-mixed argon (entrained air)-hydrogen flame where all of the atomic fluorescence lines of tin are simultaneously detected by the use of a non-dispersive measuring system with a microwave-excited electrodeless discharge lamp for atom excitation. The best attainable detection limit is 1.2 ng (equivalent to 0.6 ng ml^–1) and analytical calibration graphs obtained by measuring peak heights and integrated peak areas of the atomic fluorescence intensities are linear over a range of approximately four orders of magnitude with a precision of 3–6%. Optimisation of the experimental parameters and interference studies are reported. The method is illustrated by the determination of tin in JSS and NBS low-alloy steels with good accuracy.