Time-dependent calibration graphs in electrothermal atomisation atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

An automatic quantitative method has been developed using a family of calibration graphs, each measured at a different time during atomisation in a graphite furnace. Even at high analyte concentrations useful data can be obtained from the falling portion of the transient signal when the atom density has fallen sufficiently from its peak value. The method is demonstrated with emission from sodium atoms produced in a graphite furnace and excited at the high temperatures therein. The method avoids calibration graph non-linearities caused by self-absorption and permits automatic analyses over a wide range of concentrations without sample dilutions or instrumental adjustments.