Stibine preconcentration in a quartz trap with subsequent atomization in the quartz multiatomizer for atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A preliminary evaluation of a simple (bare) quartz tube trap for collection of SbH₃ and for volatilization of trapped analyte with subsequent atomization in a multiple microflame quartz tube atomizer (multiatomizer) for atomic absorption spectrometry is presented. The influence of relevant experimental parameters on the collection/volatilization efficiency was investigated. The parameters studied were: collection temperature and time, volatilization temperature and flow rates of air and hydrogen for the volatilization. Under optimized conditions, the collection/volatilization efficiency was 65%. For the collection time of 120 s (sample volume of 8 ml), the detection limit was 3.9 pg ml⁻¹, and the analytical plot was linear up to 1.25 ng ml⁻¹. Possible ways of improving the performance of the set-up as well as the collection/volatilization efficiency are suggested.