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Atomic Absorption Spectros
Atomic Absorption Spectros
INTRODUCTION
Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is defined as the measurement and interpretation of the
absorbed radiation in atomic level. This method is widely used for the determination of the
elements. Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Kirchoff first proposed the AAS theory.
Alan Walsh first introduced the principle of AAS.
PRINCIPLE
The atoms present in the ground state absorb the radiation produced by the flame and excited to
the excited state and which is measured by the AAS spectrometer. Atomic absorption measures
the amount of light at the wavelength which is absorbed by the atoms. Atoms present in the
sample are directly proportional to the absorption intensity.
Desolvation by evaporating the solvent present in the sample and leaves the sample
completely dry.
Vaporising the evaporated solid sample into the gas or vapour.
Voltalisation by breaking the vaporised sample into the free atoms.
THEORY
AAS is used to determine the absorbed light which directly gives the concentration of the
element present in the sample. The absorption is directly proportional to the concentration which
is derived from the Beer–Lambert's law.
The total amount of absorbed light is given by
(v) = (Πe2/mc)Nf
where e is the charge; m is the mass of the electron; c is the speed of the light; N is the total
number of atoms; f is the oscillator strength; Π, e and m are constants hence the equation
becomes
v = constant × N × f
INSTRUMENTATION
Radiation source
Atomiser
Chopper
Monochromator
Detector
Amplifer and recorder
Stable radiation.
Intense radiation.
Hallow cathode lamp: This is the most frequently used radiation source in AAS. This consists of
a sealed glass tube which in turn consists of tungsten anode and cylindrical cathode with quartz
window and the rest of the glass tube is filled with argon gas at low pressure.
Electrode less discharge lamp: This is rarely used because of its high cost and less sensitivity. It
consists of quartz tube containing inert gas and metal. This metal is excited with the radio
frequency coil.
Diagram for the electrode less discharge lamp
Chopper: The main use of the chopper is that the beam produced by the source when hits the
solid surface of the chopper blocks the beam of incident light after rotating the chopper and
allows the beam to enter into the detector.
Flame atomiser: Sample is evaporated by the desolvation process where the solvent is
completely evaporated. Then the solids are vaporised into the gaseous state. This vapour is
atomised into atoms and followed by ionisation. This forms the ions which are readily excited to
the higher energy states. To attain the atomisation, fuel and oxidants are used, for example,
hydrogen and air which produces at 2000–2100 °C.
Monochromator:
Generally prism and grating monochromators are used. The main use of monochromator is to
convert the polychromatic light to monochromatic light.
Detectors:
The detector commonly employed in the AAS is the photomultiplier tube. Electrons from the
photocathode are attracted to anode 1 and liberate more electrons which trowel towards anode 2
and continue till the last anode. The final current of 106–108 times is greater than that of primary
current.
From the detector, the electric current produced is amplified with AC amplifier and DC ampli-fer
amplifies and the difference in the frequency is summarised and recorded with the help of
recorder.
INTERFERENCES IN AAS
Spectral interferences such as spectral overlap, molecular absorption and light scattering.
Chemical interferences such as thermal stability of the sample and the ionisation ability of the
molecules present in the sample.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
APPLICATIONS
Used in the determination of water purity where the contamination with trace elements are
determined.
REVIEW QUESTIONS