A new design of graphite furnace for rapid cycle electrothermal atomisation-atomic-absorption spectrometry

Abstract

The design and performance of a new furnace developed for electrothermal atomisation - atomic-absorption spectrometry is described. The furnace consists of a segmented graphite rod. Sample solutions may be atomised directly from the rod without prior drying and pyrolysis, with the result that the time interval between sample injections is reduced to <30 s. The performance of the segmented-rod atomiser with direct sample atomisation was investigated for the determination of silver, gold, aluminium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, manganese, lead, vanadium and zinc in complex matrices containing salts and organic material. In all instances sensitivities comparable to those associated with conventional furnace systems were achieved. The coefficient of variation ranged from 4.0% for cadmium in 0.1 M nitric acid to 9% for gold in 1% sodium chloride solution.