Totally pyrolytic graphite tubes in electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

In electrothermal atomisation atomic absorption spectrometry (ETA-AAS) the analytical performance of pyrolytic graphite (PG) coated tubes and tubes made totally of pyrolytic graphite (TPG) has been studied. From the results presented we conclude that the characteristic mass as peak height is slightly reduced and the shape of the ETA-AAS signals is improved when TPG tubes are used. However, the characteristic mass data as peak area are about the same for both PG-coated and TPG tubes. From a study of the interferences and from the measured temperature distribution of PG-coated and TPG tubes it can be concluded that the sharper peaks obtained with TPG tubes are related to the heating characteristics of TPG tubes rather than the TPG material itself.