The use of sample additives in flame emission spectrometry

New kinds of sample additives were investigated to increase the efficiencies of desolvation and atomization in flame spectrometry. Hydrazine and nigrosin were chosen as chemical and dye additives, respectively; an enhancement in the flame-emission signal was obtained in both cases. With nigrosin, it was possible to eliminate completely the interference of phosphate on a calcium emission signal. The increase in the signal for both additives was believed initially to be due to the more rapid evaporation of droplets in the sample aerosol. Further evidence, however, suggested that enhanced vaporization is responsible for the observed signal increase. It is suggested that similar sample additives might be useful also in inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry.