Construction and Evaluation of a Versatile Graphite Filament Atomizer for Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

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Abstract
A simple, versatile atomizer of the electrically heated graphite rod type is described and used for atomic absorption studies. The atomizer utilizes a burner head (directly under the rod) to produce a H2-Ar-entrained air flame; the flame is primarily useful in minimizing ambient air entrainment in order to maintain a highly reducing environment directly above the rod where atomic absorption measurements are generally taken. Temperature profiles of the H2-Ar-entrained air flames and also the temperatures of the graphite rod at various currents were measured, and appropriate plots are given. Several types of graphite and several different ways of holding liquid samples on the atomizer were also compared. Detection limits and analytical curves of aqueous solutions of Ag, As, Au, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Pb and oil-based solutions of Ag, Cu, and Fe are given. This atomizer should be of even greater use for atomic fluorescence studies.