Anwendbarkeit der Zeeman-Effekt/Atomabsorption in der Komplexchemie und Spurenanalyse

The compensation of non specific background absorption is the main problem connected with determinations of traces of metals in the presence of large amounts of concomitants which volatilize together with the metal to be determined. This analytical problem manifests itself especially in flameless atomic absorption spectrometry used in coordination chemistry and trace analysis and can be very effectively mastered by the use of the Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectrometry. This method works very well in the presence of 0.1 m KNO₃ or NAClO₄, where the most commonly used method, the deuterium background compensation, fails at this concentration of supporting electrolytes in most cases. The high compensating power of the Zeeman-effect method is also demonstrated by the determination of mercury in urine after a simple matrix modification by addition of HNO₃, Br₂ and KBr. The mechanism of the stabilization of mercury by this matrix modification is also discussed. The deuterium system failed in these determinations.