A simultaneous atomic absorption and emission spectrometer with dielectric barrier discharge for atomization and excitation

Abstract

A simultaneous atomic absorption and emission spectrometer (AAS and AES) was developed using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) microplasma for atomization and excitation. The feasibility of the simultaneous measurement scheme was evaluated through the detection of AAS and AES signals of Hg with hydride generation (HG) and photochemical vapor generation (PCVG) for the sample introduction into the microplasma. The potential application for the diagnostics of atomization and excitation processes in the microplasma was investigated, through which the effect of doped gases on atomization/excitation was also studied. The doped gas mainly affects the atomization and excitation processes by varied physical parameters and radical types and contents of the plasma. Simultaneous detection of AES and AAS signals is an ideal technique for plasma diagnostics, since the ground-state population could be monitored through AAS, while the excited-state population could be monitored by AES.