Separation of atomic vapours by sequential metal vapour elution analysis

Abstract

The separation of atomic vapours was investigated by sequential metal vapour elution analysis (>1500 °C) with a packed column and argon or argon–hydrogen as the carrier gas. The detector was an atomic absorption spectrometer. The column was a molybdenum capillary tube (i.d. 1.22 mm) packed with tungsten powder. Manganese, Ag and Na vapours were separated from Cu and Fe at column temperatures of 1600 and 1700 °C. The retention times for Mn, Ag, and Na in argon and hydrogen carriers were 2.1, 7.7 and 12.6 s, respectively, at a column temperature of 1600 °C. The detection limits were 34 pg for Mn, 1.0 ng for Ag and 25 pg for Na.