Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) analysis is based on the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light by the outer electrons of the ground state atom in the gaseous state, which provides the quantitative analysis of individual elements in the sample.
Principle of AAS
The instrument radiates the light with the characteristic spectral lines of the elements to be measured from the light source, and is absorbed by the ground state atoms of the elements to be measured through the sample vapor, and the content of the elements to be measured in the sample is determined by the degree to which the radiation characteristic spectral line light is weakened.
Because of its sensitivity, accuracy and simplicity, atomic absorption spectrometer has been widely used in the analysis of major and trace elements in metallurgy, geology, mining, petroleum, light industry, agriculture, medicine, health, food and environmental monitoring.
Strengths
- Low detection limit, high sensitivity, the detection limit can reach ng/ml.
- Good selectivity: Simple spectral lines, less spectral interference caused by overlapping spectral lines, that is, strong anti-interference ability.
- It has high precision and accuracy: Because the intensity of the absorption line is less affected by the temperature of the atomizer than the emission line.
- High accuracy and fast analysis speed: The relative error of the determination of micro and trace elements can reach 0.1% to 0.5%, and it only takes tens of seconds to several minutes to analyze an element.
- Low spectral interference: Few atomic absorption lines, generally no spectral overlap of coexisting elements, and no interference to the measured element in most cases.
Limitations
- Multi-element analysis cannot be carried out: For the determination of an element by atomic absorption spectrometry, a hollow cathode lamp must be used as a sharp line light source. Although a new light source, multi-element lamp, has been developed, the stability and light source intensity of multi-element lamp are limited to a certain extent, so it is not widely used.
- Structural analysis cannot be done: Like atomic emission, it can only do component analysis, not structural analysis.
- It is difficult to determine refractory elements and non-metallic elements.
Main application industries of AAS technique
Atomic absorption spectroscopy is now widely used in various analytical fields, mainly in four areas:
- Theoretical research: Atomic absorption can be used as an experimental method of physics and physical chemistry to measure and study some basic properties of substances.
- Elemental analysis: Atomic absorption spectroscopy, due to its high sensitivity, low interference, simple and fast analysis method, is now widely used in various fields such as industry, agriculture, biochemistry, geology, metallurgy, food, environmental protection, etc. At present, atomic absorption has become one of the powerful tools for the analysis of metal elements, and has been used as a standard analysis method in many fields.
- Organic matter analysis: Many kinds of organic compounds can be determined by indirect method.
- Metal chemical speciation analysis: Through gas chromatography and liquid chromatography separation, and then determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, different organic compounds of the same metal element can be analyzed.
Our atomic absorption capabilities
T,C&A Lab provides flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, depending on the required material type and detection limit. In addition, we can use cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry to test mercury in aqueous solution.
Reference
- Fairulnizal, MN Mohd, et al. Atomic absorption spectroscopy for food quality evaluation. Evaluation Technologies for Food Quality. Woodhead Publishing, 2019. 145-173.
Note: this service is for Research Use Only and Not intended for clinical use.
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Techniques
- Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
- Atomic Force Microscope
- Auger Electron Spectroscopy
- Electron Backscatter Diffraction
- Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS)
- Focused Ion Beam (FIB)
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
- Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
- Glow Discharge-Mass Spectrometry (GD-MS)
- IGA Gas Adsorption System
- Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
- Ion Chromatography (IC)
- Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) System
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
- Raman Spectrometer
- Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS)
- Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
- Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS)
- Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC)
- Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)
- Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence
- XPS/ESCA
- X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
- X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
- X-ray Reflectivity (XRR)