Quality-assurance procedures for graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Quality-control is crucial in graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) for accurate elemental analysis.
• Standard preparation errors and complex instrumental conditions can compromise GF-AAS reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a straightforward quality-control procedure for GF-AAS.
• To establish a method for identifying instrumental malfunctions using readily available standards and simple conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a National Bureau of Standards (NBS) standard reference material for accurate calibration.
• Employed simplified instrumental conditions, omitting matrix modifiers and pyrolysis steps.
• Calculated characteristic mass and Zeeman ratio for Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), and Chromium (Cr).

Main Results:

• Deviations in characteristic mass and Zeeman ratio from expected values were observed.
• These deviations were successfully correlated with potential instrumental malfunctions in the GF-AAS system.
• The procedure demonstrated sensitivity in detecting issues without complex sample preparation.

Conclusions:

• The described procedure offers a reliable and simple method for routine quality-control in GF-AAS.
• It effectively aids in the early detection of instrumental problems, ensuring data integrity.
• The use of NBS standards and basic parameters makes this method accessible for various laboratories.