Signal to noise ratios for flow injection atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

Signal to noise ratios for flow injection coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-AAS) were compared with conventional nebulisation. Peak heights and areas were determined for a series of sample volumes (20, 100 and 500 µl) and flow-rates (3.2, 1.6, 0.8 and 0.4 ml min^–1). The reduced sample flow-rates (with a constant nebuliser gas flow-rate) improved nebulisation efficiencies by factors of 4–12. Peak-area signal to noise ratios were better than those for peak heights in every instance. The signal to noise ratios for FI-AAS peak height and area approached but never exceeded the ratios for conventional nebulisation.