Recent highlights in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is an elemental analysis technique that has been employed for virtually all types of samples. Traditionally, hollow cathode lamps, line excitation sources, have been employed for excitation. However, in the past two decades, high resolution continuum source (HR CS) GFAAS has been shown to offer greater potential for multielemental analysis, greater flexibility in wavelength selection, the ability to determine molecules, and better characterization and correction for spectral backgrounds. The recent analytical literature is critically reviewed, including solubilization and preconcentration procedures. Solid and slurry sampling have been the focus of recent work; in particular, the enhanced capabilities of HR CS GFAAS provide green methodology with suitable sensitivity, precision, and accuracy. GFAAS has also been employed for elemental speciation, including characterization of forms using the atomization profiles.