Comparison of Detection Limits in Atomic Fluorescence and Absorption Spectroscopy

Dagnall, Taylor, and West have recently compared detection limits for a number of metals in atomic fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy and have concluded that “atomic fluorescence measurements using an electrodeless discharge tube are inherently more sensitive than those obtainable by atomic absorption measurements”. Likewise West and Williams have compared the two techniques for magnesium²and silver³, using high-intensity hollow-cathode lamps as sources, and have found much lower detection limits in fluorescence than in absorption.