Background emission in carbon furnace atomic-emission spectrometry

Abstract

Investigations have shown that with careful optical design and alignment the continuous background emission signal from a carbon furnace can be reduced to a minimum. When no radiation from the furnace wall enters the monochromator directly, the background signal is a result of Rayleigh scattering of furnace-wall radiation by atoms or molecules in the vapour phase of the furnace. Methods for further reducing the continuous background signal, including optical and furnace design, are discussed.