Investigations of a reduced palladium chemical modifier for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

Palladium is a very useful chemical modifier for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. It can be used to stabilise many elements several hundred degrees higher than is possible with current methods. Its performance as a modifier is strongly affected by the sample matrix. The addition of a reducing agent provides for more consistent performance. The main purpose of the reducing agent is to “modify” the form of the palladium, guaranteeing that palladium is reduced to the metal early in the temperature programme. Differences were seen in the behaviour of the palladium modifier depending on the reduction method used. A comparison of palladium modifier methods in spike recovery studies of thallium was carried out to investigate differences between the reduction methods. It was suspected that differences in the physical form of palladium contributed to the variability in results. Scanning electron micrographs were used to investigate the physical form of palladium on the graphite surface. A method using the palladium modifier for the determination of selenium was compared with a commonly used procedure in spike recovery studies.