ATO M I C A B S O R P T I O N

technical note

AAnalyst™ 800 detection limits –

arsenic data

• Instrument Detection Limits (IDL) • All solutions, reagents, etc.,

are often quoted as a measure of THGA Furnace Program prepared under ultra-trace
instrument performance. Temp Ramp Hold Read Flow contamination-free laboratory
• However, a simple number, x pg, °C s s mL/min conditions. All sample vessels,
etc., does not provide all the pipets, etc., acid-washed (24-hr
110 1 30 250 soak in 10% v/v ultrapure HNO3)
information. This short technical
note provides support data for the 130 15 40 250 and rinsed with distilled and
As IDL produced on an AAnalyst deionized water before use. All
900 15 20 250 ultrapure acids further treated by
800 system. It includes the
experimental details, typical 2100 0 4 X 0 sub-boiling distillation.
graphite furnace atomic absorption
2450 1 6 250
signals and some of the data used
to calculate the IDL, precision at
low concentrations and the
characteristic mass data. Analytical Signals
Sufficient information is provided
to allow an experienced user to As Blank Signal
repeat these measurements. (40 µL of 0.2% v/v HNO3)
• This information allows a com- Integrated absorbance data:
plete interpretation of the IDL and -0.0003, -0.0001, -0.0003, -0.0005,
evaluation of the performance of -0.0003, -0.0001, -0.0004, -0.0004,
the AAnalyst 800 system. -0.0001, -0.0002, -0.0004

Mean: 0.0003
SD: 0.00015
Instrument Conditions
3 x SD x mo 3x0.00015 x 22 pg
Lamp EDL IDL = =
0.0044 0.0044
Wavelength 193.7 nm
= 2.3 pg
Slit 0.7 nm
Low Concentration As Signal
BOC 2.0 s
(40 µL of 0.5 µg L-1 =20 pg As)
Read 4.0 s Integrated absorbance data:
Graphite Tube End-capped THGA 0.0043, 0.0043, 0.0044, 0.0044,
0.0048, 0.0038, 0.0042, 0.0042,
Volume 40 µL
0.0044, 0.0040, 0.0042
Modifier 5 µg Pd / Mean: 0.0044
3 µg Mg(NO3)2 SD: 0.00024
Char. Mass 22 pg RSD: 5.6%

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 As Signal
(40 µL of 5 µg L-1 = 200 pg As)
Integrated absorbance data:
0.0414, 0.0418, 0.0409

Mean: 0.0414
SD: 0.0003
RSD: 0.8%

Comments
• End-capped tube improves sensitivity, characteristic mass 22 pg vs. 40 pg for
standard THGA graphite tubes.
• Solution detection limit for 50-µL sample volume = 0.05 µg L-1.
• Mixed chemical modifier of palladium/magnesium nitrate employed.
For many samples allows pyrolysis temperatures up to 1200°C.

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Order No. D-5743 June 1998 KG0698005 Printed in USA. © 1998 The Perkin-Elmer Corporation

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