Experimental estimation of fluorescence power efficiencies of several atoms in three turbulent flames used in atomic fluorescence flame spectrometry

An experimental system for the measurement of approximate atomic fluorescence power efficiencies of atoms in turbulent flames used in atomic fluorescence flame spectrometry is described. An expression is derived for the power efficiency as a function of instrumental parameters. Experimentally measured power efficiencies for eleven elements in fuel-rich oxyhydrogen, fuel-rich oxyacetylene, and fuel-rich hydrogen/argon/entrained air flames are given. The power efficiencies vary considerably from one spectral line to another, but as a result of the entrainment of ambient air into the turbulent flames, the values obtained in different flames are approximately equal. It is also shown that fluorescence radiation should rarely produce a significant error in atomic absorption spectrometry.