USE OF EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGNS FOR ESTIMATION OF OPTIMUM ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIC-ABSORPTION CONDITIONS FOR MOLYBDENUM

The classical optimization method and a fractional factorial design at two levels have been carried out in this study to evaluate the effect of mineral acids on the electrothermal atomic absorption of molybdenum in a pyrolytic graphite surface. The classical optimization method showed that the molybdenum signal is affected by the ashing ramp, ashing temperature and the acid concentration. After optimization of the ashing temperature and acid concentration, using a Doehlert matrix, the application of the fractional factorial design revealed that the ashing ramp is the factor which most influences the molybdenum atomic absorption signal.