Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Chapter 9:
Atomic Spectroscopy for Metal Analysis
Contents
Atomic spectroscopy:
mainly deals with high energy absorption/emission of individual atoms
In atomic spectroscopy, higher energy radiation is used to transit inner electrons from
low to high energy states
Flame and flameless furnaces are two common radiation sources used in atomic
spectroscopy
Note: Formation of metal oxide/hydroxide (5) and ionization of gaseous atom (6) are
common interferences that must be miimized
Nebulization
In FAAS a liquid sample is nebulized aspirated into small liquid particles
(aerosols), remaining larger droplets condense out (only around 10 % of fine
aerosols reach the burner)
Advantages of
FAAS
Advantages of
GFAAS
Simple technique
Increased
sensitivity (g L-1)
Solvent extraction
removes
interferences
Not needed
Readily available
equipment
Smaller samples
Shorter instrument
time
Unattended
operation possible
Lower instrument
cost
Reduced
contamination
For emission spectroscopy, the emitted light intensity I of a population of n excited atoms depends
on the number of atoms dn that return to the ground state during an interval time dt (dn/dt = kn).
As n is proportional to C the concentration of the element, the emitted light intensity I, is also
proportional to concentration:
I = klC
Atomic Spectroscopy
Instruments for Atomic Spectroscopy
Flame and Flameless Atomic Absorption
Atomic Spectroscopy
Instruments for Atomic Spectroscopy
Flame and Flameless Atomic Absorption
Atomic Spectroscopy
Instruments for Atomic Spectroscopy
Flame and Flameless Atomic Absorption
Sample is nebulized and entrained in the flow of plasma support gas (Ar)
Plasma torch inner tube contains the sample aerosol and Ar support gas
Radio frequency generator produces a magnetic field which sets up
an oscillating current in the ions and electrons of the support gas (Ar)
Produces high temperatures (up to 10,000 K)
Atomizes the sample and promotes atomic and ionic transitions which are observable
at UV and visible wavelengths
Excited atoms and ions emit their characteristic radiation, which are collected by a
device that sorts the radiation by wavelength
Intensity of the emission is detected and turned into a signal that is output as
concentration
Important factors:
Detection limit
Working range
Sample throughput
Cost
Interferences
Ease of use
Availability of proven methodology
Cations
Anions
(mg L-1)
0-100
Ca2+, Na+
0-25
Mg2+, K+
NO3-
0-1
PO43-
0-0.1
NO2-
Reeve, 2002
Analytical range is the concentration range over which quantitative results can be
obtained without the need for recalibration
Single:
Change of lamp
Run time ~1 min
Multi:
10-40 elements per minute
Compared to FAAS:
Lower interferences (due to higher temperatures)
Spectra for most elements can be recorded simultaneously under the same
conditions
Higher temperature allows compounds (e.g. metal oxides) to be measured
Determination of non metals (e.g. Cl, Br, I, S)
Wider linear working range
Cons: cost, carrier gas consumption (runs overnight), slightly more complicated to
run, limited use for group one metals (Li, Na, K, etc.) (emission lines are near IR)
For solid samples moisture content (w), dry weight of sample (m), and volume of
digestate (V) is required in order to calculate concentration of element:
Erroneous results arise due to one or more of the sources of interference described
above
Compensation methods: background correction, higher temperatures, release agent,
alternative wavelength, internal standard, matrix spike, etc.
e.g. Chemical interferences
Refractory salts e.g. PO43-, SO42- and silicate ion
e.g. Ca2+ forms refractory insoluble Ca3(PO4)2
Simple solutions (e.g. water) use standard curve technique to find unknown
concentration
Question
A series of solutions is made up by adding 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mL of a
10 mg L-1 lead standard to 100 mL aliquots of the unknown solution. The following
results were obtained:
0
0.27
0.1
0.37
0.2
0.53
0.3
0.65
0.4
0.75
0.5
0.88
Quantification
References
Csuros, M. and Csuros, C. (2002) Environmental Sampling and Analysis for Metals. CRC
press, Boca Raton, Fl.
Tatro, M.E. (2000) Optical Emission Inductively Coupled Plasma in Environmental
Analysis. Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, Edited by Meyers, R.A. John Wiley &
Sons, West Sussex, UK.
Questions
1. Explain: (a) The difference in the electronic configuration among various species of calcium, that is, Ca
in CaCl2, Ca0, Ca0*, and Ca2+; (b) of these species, which one(s) are desired for AAS measurement of Ca
and which one(s) are unwanted species that may cause interference for AES measurement of Ca?
2. For the following atomic absorption spectrometers FAA and ICP-OES: (a) Sketch the schematic
diagram; (b) Describe the principles (functions) of major components.
15. Explain why NH4NO3 is added to seawater when Pb and Ca are analyzed by FGAA. (hint: removes
interference due to high salinity show chemistry)
23. A groundwater sample is analyzed for its K by FAA using the method of standard additions. Two 500
L aliquots of this groundwater sample are added to 10.0 mL DI water. To one portion, 10.0 L of 10 mM
KCl is added. The net emission signals in arbitrary units are 20.2 and 75.1. What is the concentration of K
in this groundwater in mg/L? (hint: use example 9.2)
24. A 5-point calibration curve was made for the determination of Pb via FAAS. The regression equation
was: y = 0.155x + 0.0016, where y is the signal output as absorbance, and x is the Pb concentration in
mg/L.
(a) A contaminated groundwater sample was collected, diluted from 10 to 50 mL, and analyzed without
digestion. The absorbance reading was 0.203 for the sample. Calculate the concentration of Pb in this
groundwater sample.
Questions
23. A groundwater sample is analyzed for its K by FAA using the method of standard
additions. Two 500 L aliquots of this groundwater sample are added to 10.0 mL DI water.
To one portion, 10.0 L of 10 mM KCl is added. The net emission signals in arbitrary units
are 20.2 and 75.1. What is the concentration of K in this groundwater in mg/L? (hint: use
example 9.2)
Assume x millimols (mmols) of K in 500 L sample
Total mmols K in spiked sample = x + 10 mmol/L x 10L x 1 L / 10 6 L
= x + 1 x 10-4 mmols
Using ratio technique:
x/20.2 = (x + 1 x 10-4 mmols) / 75.1
Solve for x, x = 3.89 x 10 -5 mmols in 500 L aliquot
x = 3.89 x 10-5 mmols / 500 x 10-6 L x 1 mol/1000 mmols = 7.78 x 10 -5 mols/L
7.78 x 10-5 mols/L x 39.10 g/mol x 1000 mg/g = 3.04 mg/L = 3.04 ppm