Diffusion vapour transfer modelling for an end-capped atomizer. Part 1. Atomizer with closed injection port

For end-cap equipped transverse-heated graphite atomizers (THGA) with integrated contacts used for analytical atomic spectrometry, a model equation describing the diffusional losses of analyte atomic vapour through the tube ends was constructed. The model assumes that the atomic density distribution is stepwise linear along the tube axis and the absence of a sample injection hole. With a quartz tube system, providing controlled experimental conditions at room temperature, the time constant of the diffusion removal function (T_R) of mercury vapour was determined for various open and end-capped tube geometries. These results were also described by an empirical multiple regression equation with a residual standard deviation of 5%. The theoretically predicted T_R values, corrected with an empirical factor of 1.33, agreed well (correlation coefficient = 0.996) with the experimentally obtained T_R values for the endcapped quartz tubes. For the Perkin-Elmer THGA tubes, the diffusional transfer model was evaluated using the integrated atomic absorbance ratio between various end-capped and open tubes. This is meaningful because the signal ratio for graphite atomizers is closely equal to the corresponding T_R ratio. For recommended atomization temperatures the average deviation between these experimental signal ratios and the theoretically predicted ratios for the elements Ag, In, Cd, Co, Hg and Cu was 1–5% for various end-capped tube geometries. The results for the individual elements deviated more from the theoretically predicted ratios mainly because of small differences in the mean gas-phase temperature between open and end-capped tubes. For elements which tend to form molecules in the gas phase at low temperatures and for which the atomization efficiency is increased with the atomization temperature, the experimental ratios tended to be higher than the theoretically predicted values (In, Al, Se, Sn, As), whereas experimental ratios were slightly lower for other elements (Cd, Co, Cu).     

Direct As,Bi, Ge,Hg and Se(IV) cold vapor/hydride generation from coal fly ash slurry samples and determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Direct cold vapor and hydride generation procedures for As, Bi, Ge, Hg and Se(IV) from aqueous slurry of coal fly ash samples have been developed by using a batch mode generation system. Ir-treated graphite tubes have been used as a preconcentration and atomization medium of the vapors generated. A Plackett–Burman experimental design has been used as a strategy for evaluation of the effects of several parameters affecting the vapor generation efficiency from solid particles, vapor trapping and atomization efficiency from Ir-treated graphite tubes. The effects of parameters such as hydrochloric acid and sodium tetrahydroborate, argon flow rate, trapping and atomization temperatures, trapping time, acid solution volume and mean particle size have been investigated. The significant parameters obtained (trapping and atomization temperatures for As and Ge; trapping temperature and trapping time for Bi; argon flow rate and atomization temperature for Se) have been optimized by 2²+star central composite design. For Hg, the trapping temperature has been also significant. Optimum values of the parameters have been selected for the development of direct cold vapor/hydride generation methods from slurry particles. The accuracy of methods have been verified by using NIST-1633a coal fly ash certified reference material. Absolute detection limits of 11.5, 48.0, 600, 55.0 and 11.0 ng l⁻¹ for As, Bi, Ge, Hg and Se have been achieved, respectively. A particle size less than 50 μm has shown to be adequate to obtain total cold vapor/hydride generation of metals content in the aqueous slurry particles.     

Influence of graphite furnace tube design on vapour temperatures and chemical interferences in ETA-AAS

A two-line atomic absorption method for determination of lead was used for calculation of the temperatures experienced by analyte atoms in the gas phase after wall atomization with modified Philips SP-9 graphite tubes. For each tube, the influence of the temperature gradient on the vapour phase temperature and chemical interferences experienced by Cd, Mn and Pb in ETA-AAS was investigated. A higher vapour temperature and lower chemical interference by chlorides were observed when the tube temperature gradient was reversed through a reduction in the wall thickness towards the ends of the tube.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry of silicon vaporized from different surfaces

The dependence of silicon absorbance on inert gas flow rate, ashing temperature and the amount injected was studied for uncoated, pyrolytically coated and tantalum carbide-coated graphite tubes. The reasons for the anomalous curvature of the calibration graphs and other unusual phenomena are discussed. Most sensitive results for silicon were obtained by isothermal atomization from a tantalum-treated tube and platform.     

Evaluation of end-capped tubes for transverse heated graphite atomizer electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Transverse heated graphite tubes with (EC-THGA) and without (THGA) ends caps have been tested with respect to characteristic mass, detection limits and reproducibilities at two levels of concentration for four different types of analytes. Compared for Cd, Pb and Cr with a standard THGA tube, the EC-THGA tube exhibits a gain of sensitivity by a factor of about 1.4 in terms of characteristic masses. Also detection limits are significantly improved for the end-capped tube design tested. The presence of end caps increases the mass of the tube and decreases consequently the heating rate achieved. As shown on the molybdenum example, the atomization efficiency of refractory metals is not so good as with standard THGA tubes. Interference effects studied on the Cd, Pb and Cr determinations in environmental samples (sediments, plants and animal tissues) are similarly negligible for the two tubes tested.     

Scanning electron microscopy studies on surfaces from electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: II. Total pyrolytic graphite platforms in pyrographite coated polycrystalline electrographite tubes

Morphological studies on graphite surfaces by scanning electron microscopy are presented for platforms made from total pyrolytic graphite, and for polycrystalline electrographite tubes with pyrographite coating in which the pyrolytic graphite platforms are inserted. Platforms made of pyrolytic graphite have a very long lifetime and can actually survive several tubes. But also the lifetime of polycrystalline electrographite tubes with pyrographite coating is substantially longer when the sample is deposited on a platform and not on the tube wall. The analytically useful lifetime of platform and tube comes close to 1000 determinations at an atomization temperature of 2650°C, and even in the presence of corrosive matrices 500 determinations can be performed without significant loss in sensitivity. Intercalation appears to be no problem with pyrolytic graphite platforms. Substantial deposition of graphite was found on the platform under different analytical conditions, leading to a secondary coating of the surface. The sensitivity of carbide-forming elements depends very much upon the quality of the pyrographite coating of the polycrystalline electrographite tubes in which the platforms are mounted.     

Kinetics of indium atomization from different atomizer surfaces in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS)

The kinetic parameters of indium atomization in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) have been determined by a newly proposed method. Effect of the atomizer surface and the palladium modifier on the kinetics of indium atomization has been investigated. The mechanisms of indium atomization seem to be identical for the pyrolytically coated graphite and the uncoated graphite tubes, i.e. the rate-limiting step for the atomization changes from a first order kinetics at lower temperatures into a nearly 1/3 order kinetics at higher temperatures, which may suggest that the analyte moves from a dispersed state to agglomates with increasing temperature. However, for the zirconium coated graphite tube, the atomization of indium is controlled by a single mechanism with the kinetic order of near 2/3 and the activation energy of 186 ± 13 kJ/mol. Relatively weak indium—zirconium carbide interactions and the release of indium from the sphere of molten indium metal on the zirconium coated surface are suggested. In the presence of palladium, a simple mechanism, i.e. the release of indium from the solid solution of the In and the Pd on the pyrolytically coated graphite surface, is proposed to account for the observed first order kinetics and the activation energy of 421 ± 27 kJ/mol.     

Factors influencing the atomization of vanadium in graphite furnace AAS

We have made the determination of V conform to the requirements of the modern (stabilized temperature) furnace technology where the integrated absorbance (A·s) signals are used to quantitate analyte volatilized into a chamber whose temperature is relatively constant during the period when the analyte peak is measured. Graphite tubes with good pyrolytic coating and fast (maximum power) heating are required. We explored the advantages of specially designed tubes, of a cool-down procedure between the char and atomization steps and of very thin platforms. We found that Mg(NO₃)₂ was advantageous as a matrix modifier. With these conditions we found no problems with several matrices reported by earlier workers to be troublesome, for example HNO₃, phosphate, Fe, Mg and Ca. However metals that form very refractory carbides, such as La, Mo, W and Zr may remain troublesome for V, probably because mixed carbides result which include VC. A group of geological samples was analysed for V. Our recommendation is the use of wall atomization from tubes with good pyrolytic coatings, Mg(NO₃)₂ as a matrix modifier and the cool-down procedure to establish a nearly constant temperature along the tube.     

Some aspects of electrothermal atomization of elements from large amounts of involatile matrices

Non-volatile matrices which cannot diffuse into the graphite walls of an electro-thermal atomizer (as obtained by direct sampling of solids, injection of solutions into tubes with pyrolytic coatings or with a hydrophobic film) make a “miniplatform” in the centre of the atomizing tube. A delay in the temperature increase of this platform at the beginning of the atomization step compared to that of the atomizer walls causes enhancement of the peak height sensitivity. This was proven by atomization of nanogram quantities of copper and iron from solutions of aluminium salts.     

The Use of Solid Permanent Modifiers for ETA-AAS

Noble metals such as iridium as well as certain other metals may be sputtered onto the inner graphite surface of a graphite tube for use as atomization surface in electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry. This is accomplished by a low pressure argon discharge process described earlier. It has also been shown previously that the use of such tubes may reduce background absorption when determining lead, cadmuim and selenium in a complex matrix such as whole blood.