Evaluation of a gas jet-enhanced sputtering device for atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A gas jet-enhanced sputtering device has been utilized in glow discharge atomic absorption spectrometry for the analysis of solid steel samples. The experimental design was implemented in the evaluation of fundamental operating parameters (hollow cathode lamp current, burn current and burn pressure). Statistical techniques were used to determine the optimum conditions. Four samples types were considered: British Chemical Standard Certified Reference Materials SS 451/1–455/1 Carbon Steel Residual Series (Group A), SS 461–468 Austenitic Stainless Steels and SS 409/1 Low Alloy Steel (Group B), and 12671 H Cobalt-based Alloy. Sensitivities for nickel, chromium and copper determined in the carbon steel under optimum conditions were 54, 6 and 64 µg g^–1, respectively.