General computer program (AAS-TOOLS) for theoretical studies in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A general computer program (AAS-TOOLS) is described which can act as a tool-box for theoretical studies in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. This tool-box consists of general data processing tools, an on-line data collection system and attendant database. Application of the tool-box is demonstrated by several practical and theoretical examples: (i) fitting and filtering of analytical data; (ii) on-line data collection for the atomization of Be; (iii) use of Smets' method to determine the kinetic parameters of Mn; and (iv) theoretical simulation of an atomic absorbance signal based on an exponentially modified Gaussian function. Pull-down menus are adopted in the program with on-line help information. The results of data acquisition or processing and graphs (lines or curves) are saved on a diskette as files which can be retrieved directly by Lotus-123 and Wordperfect (V 5.1 or 5.0). Some algorithms for data processing are given in the Appendix.