Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is a spectroanalytical procedure for the quantitative determination of chemical elements using the absorption of optical radiation (light) by free atoms in the gaseous state. Atomic absorption is so sensitive that it can measure down to parts per billion of a gram (�g dm3) in a sample. The technique makes use of the wavelengths of light specifically absorbed by an element. They correspond to the energies needed to promote electrons from one energy level to another, higher, energy level. Atomic absorption spectrometry has many uses in different areas of chemistry. Examining metals in biological fluids such as blood and urine, Monitoring our environment (eg: finding out the levels of various elements in rivers, seawater, drinking water, air, petrol and drinks such as wine, beer and fruit drink). In some pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, minute quantities of a catalyst used in the process (usually a metal) are sometimes present in the final product. By using AAS the amount of catalyst present can be determined. Many raw materials are examined and AAS is extensively used to check that the major elements are present and that toxic impurities are lower than specified (eg: in concrete, where calcium is a major constituent, the lead level should be low because it is toxic). By using AAS the amount of metals such as gold in rocks can be determined to see whether it is worth mining the rocks to extract the gold. This book aims to cover all major topics which are required to equip scholars with the recent advancement in this field. The book provides a systematic treatment of combining flow injection methods with all fields of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) including flame, hydride generation and electrothermal AAS.