Analysis of submicroliter samples using micro thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A recently described thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometric (TS-FF-AAS) system has been modified in order to extend the applicability of the method for the determination of elemental traces in very small sample volumes (microliter or submicroliter). As an easily available, effective thermospray vaporizer, a fused silica capillary was used and the liquid sample was transported by 1 MPa (10 bar) gas pressure delivered by a standard gas cylinder. A 0.3 microL sample volume can be analyzed with a higher power of detection than using 3 orders of magnitude larger sample volumes with conventional flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The relative standard deviations (N=12) for 0.3 microL volumes and 5 microg/mL Pb samples amount to 3.1% and 3.8% in signal height and signal area, respectively. The detection limit was found to be 69 ng/mL. Initial experiments with other elements (Cd, Hg, Tl, Zn) led to similar results.