Echelle-spectrometer/image-dissector system for elemental quantitation by continuous-source atomic absorption spectrometry

The performance of an echelle-spectrometer/image-dissector system is evaluated for elemental quantitation by continuous-source atomic absorption spectrometry. Flame and graphite-furnace atomizers were used, as well as two different spectrometer configurations. Quantitative results obtained with the flame atomizer and a low-resolution spectrometer configuration are discussed briefly; results obtained with the graphite-furnace atomizer and a higher-resolution configuration are presented in detail. Absorption sensitivities for calcium (422.7 nm), chromium (425.4 and 357.9 nm), copper (324.8 nm), and manganese (403.1 and 279.5 nm) were all within a factor of 4–6 of comparable line- source absorption sensitivities, and calibration curves were linear up to absorbances of about 0.1. Further development of the system for simultaneous multi-element quantitation is discussed.