ATOMIC FLUORESCENCE OF COPPER WITH A HIGH-INTENSITY HOLLOW-CATHODE LAMP

Copper is determined at 3248 Å by atomic fluorescence spectrometry with inexpensive, single-beam, unmodulated instrumentation with a high-intensity hollow-cathode lamp and a hydrogen/argon/entrained-air flame. The limit of detection is 0,003 μ ml and the linear working range covers nearly five decades of concentration. Evidence is presented which suggests different fluorescence quantum efficiencies for the 3274 Å and 3248 Å fluorescence lines. In the presence of 0.01 M hydrochloric acid, only aluminum, phosphate and silicate give any chemical interference out of 31 species examined. An extensive study of the effect of light scattering by concomitants is presented and in favorable instances nearly 1% total dissolved solids can be tolerated. The degree of scatter was of the same order as for atomic absorption spectrometry, using low-temperature flames. © 1969.