The atomization cell as an strategic key to improve sensitivity in thermospray flame furnace atomic spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS)

EZEQUIEL MORZÁN; MANUELA KIM; JORGE D. STRIPEIKIS; MABEL TUDINO

Mar del Plata

Simposio; Eleventh Rio Symposium on Atomic Spectrometry; 2010

RIO SYMPOSIUM ON ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY

Amongst the different elements that shape the transient analytical signal in TS-FFAAS, the atomization cell is of special relevance. In order to provide evidence on this, we have performed comparative studies where the conventional nickel tube has been replaced for quartz tubes of different sizes e this This work describes the optimization of development of an analytical procedure for gold determination by flow injection thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-TS-FF-AAS) using nickel tubes and quartz tubes as atomization cells. Under the same operational conditions, it was observed that the quartz tube increases the sensitivity of gold determination about 2.5 times in comparison to the nickel tube  Besides with the quartz furnace can be used a higher concentration of HCl in the carrier witch increases the sensitivity a 30% more. In addition, this study evaluates the dispersion effect produced in the atomization cell changing the internal diameter of the quartz tube controlling the radial dispersion of the analyte. The concentration of HCl in the carrier, flow rate and sample volume injected were evaluated for the optimization of the FI-TS-FF-AAS system. The LOD obtained for quartz tube was 4 mg L-1, and frequency of analysis 72 h-1. The system was then tested for determination of gold in homeopathic medicament without any sample digestion.