Lecture 7 (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) ) - Clinical
Lecture 7 (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) ) - Clinical
Instrumental Analysis
CPA2103
Credit hour: 2
Lecture
12 lectures
Atomic Absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
-In AAS, the temperature of the flame is low enough that the flame it self does not
excite the sample atoms from the ground state but the excitation is done by the use of
external source of radiation which produces one beam of monochromatic light
(resonance wavelength) specific for each element.
-Atomic absorption spectroscopy depends on measuring the amount of light
(2)Upon excitation electrons are promoted to Upon excitation electrons are raised to π* or
any permissible higher atomic E level. σ* E levels.
(3) Since there are no bonds, there are no Since there are bonds, there are vibrational &
vibrational or rotational E levels either in rotational E levels in both the ground &
the ground or excited states. excited states.
(4) The spectra are line form The spectra are bands due to the presence of
very close superimposed vibrational &
rotational E levels in the excited state.
(5) The analytical λ is the resonance
wavelength of the analyte (which causes The analytical wavelength is λmax.
the most intense excitation)
* Instrument for Atomic Absorption *
- It consists of:
1- Source of radiation. 2- Chopper.
3- Atomizer. 4- Monochromator.
5- Detector. 6- Read out meter.
A-Source of radiations
• Hollow cathode lamp is used as a source of radiations in AAS which produces
emission lines specific for the element used in construction of its cathode.
•Hydrogen or deuterium lamp can not be used as they produce a much broader
band than that required to be absorbed by the atoms in the flame.
•Each element has its own unique lamp which must be used for its analysis.
B- Chopper
1-It is located in the front of the lamp to fluctuate (modulate) the source
output.
2-It is a circular disc divided into four quarters, two are mirrored and two are
opened.
❖ How does it work?
1-The disc rotates at constant speed, when the mirrored quarters are in front of the
lamp it reflects the radiations.
2-The second time, the opened quarters are in front of the lamp and the radiations
passes to the sample being absorbed and so reaches the detector in the form of pulses
and converted to alternative current (AC).
3- While the radiation from the flame or from atoms excited by the flame will reach the
detector continuously and converted to direct current (DC).
➢ So by using the chopper (modulator of the source output), the detector can
differentiate the fluctuated radiations of the light source from continuous
radiations from the atomizer and that is called “fluctuation of the source
output”.
C- Atomizer
There are two types of atomizer:
1 -Flame atomizer
It is the same as in flame emission spectroscopic technique but the
temperature of the flame is low enough that the flame it self does not excite
the sample atoms from the ground state.
2-Flameless (non flame) atomizer
It is a graphite furnace heated electrically to 6000 °C. Upon heating the
furnace, the sample is ashen (burnt) then atomized by action of the heat.
Advantages of flameless atomizer:
1-Require small sample volume and has high sensitivity.
2-It can be used for liquid and solid samples directly.
3-Heat distribution is uniform and temperature is steady.
4-No need for fuel – oxidant mixtures.
5-No flame noise.
d- Monochromator
Grating which is used to eliminate other resonance lines from the light source
or other radiations from the flame or the sample.
e- Detector: It is photomultiplier tube.
f- Readout meter: Absorbance or transmittance output.
* Applications of Atomic Absorption *