ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETER

PRINCIPLE
Measurement of absorption of light by the ground state
atoms of an element.

NOTE
 Atoms of a particular element absorbs only the wavelength characteristic to
the element.
 Elements are to be atomized at ground state to get required absorption.
 PerkinElmer - AAnalyst700
Available techniques - Flame, MHS, GF.
 TECHNIQUES & MODES USED IN AAS

Flame Technique Hydride Generation Graphite Furnace

Technique Technique
To determine To determine elements (in
elements (in ppm level) ppb level) like Hg, As, Se To determine
by generation of hydride of
like Ca, Mg, Cr, Zn, corresponding material elements to ppb level
Pb, Cd, Fe etc. using a furnace made
NaBH4/NaOH and
 Air/ acetylene or, carrying the hydride of of graphite.
Air/Nitrous oxide corresponding element by
flame. carrier gas (Argon, in this
case).
Hydride Generation
Methods
Mercury Hydride System
(MHS)
Flow Injection Analysis
System (FIAS)
OPTICAL SYSTEM
 TYPES OF SOURCES OF LIGHT (LAMPS)
Hollow Cathode Lamp (HCL)

Electrodeless Discharge Lamp (EDL)

 SAMPLE PREPARATION

• Depending on the type of product & element of interest different techniques are used
to digest sample e.g; Dry ashing, Wet digestion, Microwave digestion etc.

• Samples are effectively digested in concentrated HNO3.

We are using Dry ashing & Wet digestion methods

• Extreme precautions are to be taken to prevent cross contamination while digesting
samples as determination levels are in ppb/ppm. All glass wares to be washed
thoroughly by water, D.D. water & dilute HNO3 respectively.

• Final volume make up of sample are to be done accurately as per the SOP.

• Standards of the element of interest are to be prepared accurately by serial dilution as

per the SOP.
 ANALYSIS FLOW CHART
Flame Mode MHS Mode
Elements Analyzed here – Pb, Cd Elements Analyzed here – Hg, As

Switch on air compressor Switch on air compressor

& acetylene. Switch on the & acetylene (if Arsenic analysis). Switch on the
machine & Software. machine & Software. Fit he QTA & Quartz cell.

Choose the required method. Choose the required method. Switch on the
Switch on the required lamp. required lamp & let it warm up for minimum
Put the flame on. 45 minutes. Open Carrier gas (Argon).

Aspirate calibration blank & standards through Aspirate calibration blank & standards through
nebuliser successively. Calibration curve & MHS. Calibration curve & correlation
correlation coefficient will be calculated by coefficient will be calculated by software
Software automatically. automatically.

Aspirate reagent blank, followed by the sample. Aspirate reagent blank, followed by the sample.
Record the abs. & displayed concentration. Record the abs. & displayed concentration.

Interpret the result. Interpret the result.

 POINTS TO NOTE
• Software used in PerkinElmer models are WINLAB32.
• Standards having strength less than 10 ppm should not be kept more
than a week.
• Always use freshly prepared NaBH4 solution. It should be kept cool
while analyzing to prevent bubble formation inside the container.
• For MHS analysis, fit the QTA properly & align the quartz cell by
using options in the software before analysis.
• Gas pressures-
• Compressed air – 6 bar (Maintain it properly as the machine is
pneumatically controlled hence, air is required to operate it as well as
for the flame)
• Acetylene – 14-15 psig (Warning : Do not go beyond 15 psig)
• Argon (For MHS) – 20 psig
ANY QUESTIONS