ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SOME ELEMENTS FORMING VOLATILE HYDRIDES WITH A HEATED CELL ATOMIZER AND GAS HANDLING-SYSTEM

A system is described which permits the atomic absorption spectrometric determination of antimony, arsenic, bismuth, lead, selenium, tellurium and tin after formation of their volatile hydrides. The apparatus consists of an electrically heated cell atomizer and a gas handling system which enables the gaseous hydrides either to be introduced directly into the cell (Sb, Pb, Te, Sn) or to be collected in a gasometer and subsequently transferred to the cell (As, Bi, Se). The latter elements are evolved more slowly, so that collection is necessary to achieve maximum sensitivity. The differences in the rates of hydride production are discussed. © 1979.