Background correction in frequency modulated simultaneous atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary For a long time simultaneous multielement determination by AAS has been a subject of intensive research. In this work a simultaneous multielement atomic absorption spectrometry method is described in a special new arrangement, called frequency modulated simultaneous AAS (FremsAAS), using fiberoptics, interference filters and frequency modulation and demodulation by lock-in amplifiers as main devices. Purpose of this work was to equip the FremsAAS with a D₂-background correction and to test it with certified reference materials. Mn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr and Zn had been determined simultaneously (three at a time) in sewage sludge (BCR/CRM 146), estuarine sediment (BCR/CRM 277) and phosphate rock (BCR/CRM 32) with good feasibility. Frequency modulated simultaneous AAS with background correction (FremsAASUK) represents an interesting alternative to known instruments.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. V. Krivan on the occasion of his 60th birthday