Tandem sources using electrothermal atomizers: analytical capabilities and limitations

Abstract

Tandem emission sources with electrothermal volatilization and atomization of the sample, such as furnace atomic non-thermal excitation spectrometry (FANES) or furnace atomization plasma emission spectrometry, are compared with other excitation sources, e.g., an inductively coupled plasma. The interdependence between the excitation and atomization processes, which causes restrictions for analytical procedures, is considered. Of particular interest for the analytical applications of tandem sources is the influence of matrix constituents on the excitation conditions. Furnace atomizers are able to form relatively high matrix concentrations in the excitation plasma, which can lead to a breakdown of the initial electron energy distribution. Correspondingly, depression of the analytical signals by the matrix has been found for FANES, which leads to some general conclusions on tandem sources.