Atomic fluorescence spectrometry of thallium with a frequency-doubled dye laser and vitreous carbon atomizer

A vitreous carbon atomizer is described for use in laser-excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry and is applied to the determination of thallium in aqueous solution. When a frequency-doubled N₂ laser-pumped dye laser is used to excite the atomic thallium at 276.8 nm and the combined direct-line fluorescence and stepwise-line fluorescence are detected at 352.9 and 351.9 nm, respectively, the limit of detection is 2.5 × 10^-14 g in a 0.5-pg ml^-1 sample solution. The calibration curve for thallium has a linear range extending over six orders of magnitude.