Furnace atomisation with non-thermal excitation—Experimental evaluation of detection based on a high-resolution échelle monochromator incorporating automatic background correction

Abstract

The analytical potential that could be derived from the combination of a FANES source with a high-resolution wavelength-modulated échelle monochromator has been investigated. Detection limits for elements of high excitation potential are improved using the non-thermal excitation process compared with the thermal excitation processes available in carbon furnace atomic-emission spectrometry. For some other elements of lower excitation potential detection limits are impaired owing to the increased complexity of the background spectrum in the FANES source.