Abstract

The performance of a transverse heated filter atomizer (THFA) is investigated for the atomic absorption determination of Pb and Cd in organic solutions and compared with that of a conventional transverse heated graphite atomizer (THGA). Organometallic species of Pb and Cd are stabilized in the THFA at 1100 and 900 °C, respectively, without matrix modification. Pd and Ir modifiers can be used to increase the stabilization temperature by 100 and 200 °C, respectively. Ir provides permanent stabilization during, at least, 75 heating cycles with a cleaning temperature of 2450 °C. Sensitivity improvement (3–4 times), better repeatability, large sample volumes (up to 100 µl) and a short thermal program provide the advantages of the THFA over the THGA in the analysis of organic liquids. The precision and accuracy of the method is verified by the analysis of certified reference materials.