Abstract

The theory and principles, design, construction, and preliminary evaluation of a system based on the electrostatic precipitation of metals in aerosols on a tungsten collecting electrode, followed by injection of this rod into an electrothermal atomizer for atomic absorption spectrometric determination of the metal, is described. With the use of a manganese aerosol generated by an electrothermal vaporizer, the highest atomic absorption signals—and therefore the optimum charging and collecting efficiency for the geometry of the system as described—were achieved with a negative corona of 15 kV and low aerosol velocity. The system determined copper in the laboratory atmosphere on a near-real-time basis.

Electrostatic techniques for protection of optical components in dusty environments

Stuart A. Hoenig
Appl. Opt. 19(5) 694-697 (1980)

Aerosol spectrometry in the infrared

Hugh R. Carlon
Appl. Opt. 19(13) 2210-2218 (1980)

A Heated Chamber Burner for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

A. A. Venghiattis
Appl. Opt. 7(7) 1313-1316 (1968)

An Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

Herbert L. Kahn and Walter Slavin
Appl. Opt. 2(9) 931-936 (1963)

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy with High Temperature Flames

J. B. Willis
Appl. Opt. 7(7) 1295-1304 (1968)