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Atomic Absorption Spectros

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique used to determine the concentration of metals in samples. It works by vaporizing the sample into free atoms that can absorb light at specific wavelengths. The concentration is determined from measuring the amount of light absorbed and comparing it to a calibration curve of known standards. It is a sensitive, accurate, and selective method that is widely used in applications like clinical analysis, environmental studies, food analysis, and more.

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Rashed Biswas
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134 views

Atomic Absorption Spectros

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique used to determine the concentration of metals in samples. It works by vaporizing the sample into free atoms that can absorb light at specific wavelengths. The concentration is determined from measuring the amount of light absorbed and comparing it to a calibration curve of known standards. It is a sensitive, accurate, and selective method that is widely used in applications like clinical analysis, environmental studies, food analysis, and more.

Uploaded by

Rashed Biswas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ATOMIC

ABSORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY

Tapeshwar Yadav
(Lecturer)
BMLT, DNHE,
M.Sc. Medical Biochemistry
CONTENTS:
 Introduction.
 Definition.
 History.
 Principle of AAS.
 Technique
 Instrumentation.
 Applications.
 Conclusion.
INTRODUCTION:

 Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy is a very common


technique for detecting metals and metalloids in
samples.

 It is very reliable and simple to use.

 It can analyze over 62 elements.

 It also measures the concentration of metals in the


sample.
Definition

 In analytical chemistry, Atomic


absorption spectroscopy is a
technique for determining the
concentration of a particular metal element
in a sample. Atomic absorption
spectroscopy can be used to analyze the
concentration of over 62 different metals in
a solution.
HISTORY:
 The first atomic absorption spectrometer was built by
CSIRO scientist Alan Walsh in 1954 (Australia). Shown
in the picture Alan Walsh(left), with a spectrometer.
 Firstly used for mining, medical treatment&agriculture
PROPERTIES OF AAS
 The most widely used method in analysis
of elements
 Based on the absorption of radiation
 So sensitive (ppb)
 Quantitative analysis
Elements detectable by atomic absorption are highlighted in pink in this
periodic table
PRINCIPLE:

 The technique uses basically the principle that free


atoms (gas) generated in an atomizer can absorb
radiation at specific frequency.

 Atomic-absorption spectroscopy quantifies the


absorption of ground state atoms in the gaseous state .

 The atoms absorb ultraviolet or visible light and make


transitions to higher electronic energy levels. The analyte
concentration is determined from the amount of
absorption.
- Concentration measurements are usually determined from a
working curve after calibrating the instrument with standards
of known concentration.

- Atomic absorption is a very common technique for


detecting metals and metalloids in environmental samples.
THEORY:
Hollow Cathode
Lamp

Detector Nebulizer
Atomic
Absorption
spectrometer

Monochromator Atomizer
Technique
 . The technique typically makes use of a
flame to atomize the sample, but other
atomizers such as a graphite furnace are
also used.
 Three steps are involved in turning a liquid
sample into an atomic gas:
steps
 Three steps are involved in turning a liquid
sample into an atomic gas:
 Desolvation – the liquid solvent is
evaporated, and the dry sample remains
 Vaporisation – the solid sample vaporises
to a gas
 Volatilization – the compounds making up
the sample are broken into free atoms.
Schematic diagram of AAS:
INSTRUMENTATION
LIGHT SOURCE:

 Hollow Cathode Lamp are the most common radiation


source in AAS.

 It contains a tungsten anode and a hollow cylindrical


cathode made of the element to be determined.

 These are sealed in a glass tube filled with an inert gas


(neon or argon ) .

 Each element has its own unique lamp which must be


used for that analysis .

     
Hollow Cathode Lamp:
Quartz window

Pyrex body

cathode

Anode

Cathode
NEBULIZER:
 suck up liquid samples at controlled rate.

 create a fine aerosol spray for introduction into flame.

 Mix the aerosol and fuel and oxidant thoroughly


for introduction into flame.
Atomizer
 Elements to be analyzed needs to be in atomic sate.

 Atomization is separation of particles into individual


molecules and breaking molecules into atoms. This is
done by exposing the analyte to high temperatures in a
flame or graphite furnace .
ATOMIZERS:

ATOMIZER

FLAME GRAPHITE TUBE


ATOMIZERS ATOMIZERS
FLAME ATOMIZER:

 To create flame, we need to mix an oxidant gas and a


fuel gas.

 in most of the cases air-acetylene flame or nitrous oxide-


acetylene flame is used.

 liquid or dissolved samples are typically used with flame


atomizer.
    
GRAPHITE TUBE ATOMIZER:

 uses a graphite coated furnace to vaporize the sample.

 ln GFAAS sample, samples are deposited in a small


graphite  coated tube which can then be heated to
vaporize and atomize the analyte.

 The graphite tubes are heated using a high current


power supply.
MONOCHROMATOR:

 This is a very important part in an AA spectrometer. It is


used to separate out all of the thousands of lines.

 A monochromator is used to select the specific


wavelength of light which is absorbed by the sample,
and to exclude other wavelengths.

 The selection of the specific light allows the


determination of the selected element in the presence of
others.
DETECTOR:

 The light selected by the monochromator is directed onto


a detector that is typically a photomultiplier tube , whose
function is to convert the light signal into an electrical
signal proportional to the light intensity.

 The processing of electrical signal is fulfilled by a signal


amplifier . The signal could be displayed for readout , or
further fed into a data station for printout by the
requested format.
Calibration Curve
 A calibration curve is used to determine the unknown
concentration of an element in a solution. The instrument
is calibrated using several solutions of known
concentrations. The absorbance of each known solution
is measured and then a calibration curve of
concentration vs absorbance is plotted.

 The sample solution is fed into the instrument, and the


absorbance of the element in this solution is
measured .The unknown concentration of the element is
then calculated from the calibration curve
APPLICATIONS:
Determination of even small amounts of metals (lead,
mercury, calcium, magnesium, etc) as follows:
 Clinical analysis (blood samples: whole blood,

plasma,serum; Ca, Mg, Li, Na, K, Fe)


 Environmental studies: drinking water, ocean water, soil.

 Food industry: Food analysis

 Water analysis (e.g. Ca, Mg, Fe, Si, Al, Ba content)

 Analysis of soils

 Pharmaceutical industry.
CONCLUSION
 One of the most important technique in quantitative
analysis
 It is based on the absorption of radiation
 Measurements could be done at very sensitivity levels
 It’s widely used method
 The preparation of the sample is usually simple and
rapid
CONCLUSION
 There are many adventages
 High sensitivity
[10-10 g (flame), 10-14 g (non-flame)]
 Good accuracy
(Relative error 0.1 ~ 0.5 % )
 High selectivity

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