Atomic Absorption

Spectroscopy
Dr. Khawaja Ali Zakir
Introduction:
• This technique was
introduced in 1955 by
Walsh in Australia. The
first commercial atomic
absorption spectrometer
was introduced in 1959.
Definition:
• When we study the absorption of energy by the atoms in the flame, we
call this technique as Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy AAS.
• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) is an analytical technique that
measures the concentrations of metals and metalloids in samples.
• It makes use of the absorption of light by these elements, in order to
measure their concentration.
Principle:
• Atomic-absorption spectroscopy
quantifies or measures the absorption of
radiation by ground state atoms in the
gaseous state.
• The absorption of the ultraviolet or
visible light energy that has the right
wavelength causes the electrons of the
sample to be promoted from a lower
energy level to a higher energy level.
• The analyte concentration is determined
from the amount of absorption.
Principle:
• The change in energy can be • Where;
calculated as, • 𝜟𝑬 = Change in energy
• Δ𝐸 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸0 • 𝑬𝟏 = Excited energy
• Δ𝐸 = ℎ𝑣 • 𝑬𝟎 = Ground state energy
𝑐
•𝜆= •𝒉 = Plank’s constant
𝑣
• So, the equation will be; •𝒄 = Velocity
• Δ𝐸 =
ℎ𝑐 •𝝀 = Wavelength
𝑣
Instrumentation:
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy has following components
1. A light source (usually a hollow cathode lamp)
2. Beam chopper
3. Atomizer
4. A monochromator
5. A detector and read out device
1. Light Source
1. Light Source
• Hollow Cathode Lamp (HCL):
• The Hollow cathode lamp is consisting of a glass tube that contain
tungsten or platinum anode and a hollow cylindrical cathode made
of the element that is to be determine.
• An exit made up of Pyrex or quartz window.
• These are sealed in a glass tube filled with an inert gas (neon or
argon).
• Each element has its own unique lamp which must be used for that
analysis.
Working of Hallow Cathode Lamp
• When potential difference is applied between anode and cathode leads to the
ionization of the gas (Neon or argon) atoms.
• When these gaseous ions strike with the surface of cathode it produces a
cloud of metal atoms. This process is known as sputtering.
• Some sputtered atoms are in excited states and emit radiation, as they fall
back to the ground state.
• The shape of the cathode which is hollow cylindrical concentrates the
emitted radiations into a beam which passes through a quartz window all the
way to the vaporized sample. Since different atoms absorb specific
wavelength of light.
• Analyze a sample to see if it contains a particular atom.
2. Beam chopper
2. Beam chopper
• It is present between the hollow cathode lamp and flame. It rotates and
breaks the steady light into intermittent (stop and start at irregular
interval) light.
3. Atomizer
3. Atomizer
• The substances which are to be analyzed need to be in atomic state.
• Atomization:
• The process in which a substance is converted into atomic state is
known as atomization.
• It refers to the separation of the particles into individual molecules
and breaking molecules into atoms.
• This is done by exposing the analyte to high temperature in a flame
or graphite furnace.
Steps involved in atomization
1) Solution of analyte: First, made a solution by dissolving sample in a
solvent.
2) DE-solvation: Solvent is evaporated by heating the solution to dry
the sample.
3) Volatilization: Solid atoms are converted into a gaseous molecule in
a flame.
4) Dissociation: Molecules are dissociated into atoms.
Steps involved in atomization
• 5) Ionization:
• 6) Excitation: The atoms absorb a particular amount of energy, then
jump to the higher energy state when excited.
• 7) Emission: Since the higher energy state is unstable the atoms jump
back to the ground state or low energy state to gain stability.
• This jumping of atoms emits radiation with characteristic wavelength.
The radiation is measured by the photo detector.
Types of Atomizer:
• There are two types of atomizer
1) Flame atomizer
2) Graphite furnace automizer
Flame atomizer:
• Flame Atomic absorption can only analyze liquids and solution
samples.
• Sample solutions are usually introduced into a nebulizer (The process
in which sample solution is mixed with gas to form droplet is called
nebulization).
• In the nebulizer the sample is dispersed into tiny droplets, which can
be readily broken down in the flame.
• The fine mist of droplets is mixed with fuel (acetylene), oxidant
(nitrous oxide) and then burned. The technique is thus named as Flame
atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Graphite furnace atomization
• Graphite furnace is used for the atomization of the sample.
• The sample is dried then burned to ash and finally atomized.
• The technique is thus named as Graphite atomic absorption
spectroscopy.
• This technique should be used only when the sample size is small.
Sample is introduced inside the graphite cylinder.
• The inert gas is passed through the graphite furnace which prevents
the oxidation of graphite. Graphite atomic absorption can analyze
liquid, solid, semi-solid and solution samples.
Construction
• It is consisting of metallic chamber.
• A graphite cylinder is present inside the
chamber.
• A small hole is present on graphite cylinder.
• Water is flowing outside the metallic
chamber.
• An inert gas is filled inside the chamber.
4. Monochromator:
4. Monochromator:
• This is a very important part in an Atomic Absorption spectrometer. It
is used to separate out all the thousands of lines.
• Without a good monochromator, detection limits are severely
compromised.
• A monochromator is used to select the specific wavelength of light
which is absorbed by the sample, and to exclude other wavelengths.
• The selection of the specific light allows the determination of the
selected element in the presence of others.
5. Detector and read out device
5. Detector and read out device
• The light selected by the monochromator is directed onto a detector
that is typically a Photomultiplier tube, whose function is to convert
the light signal into an electrical signal proportional to the light
intensity.
• The processing of electrical signal is fulfilled by a signal amplifier.
• The signal could be displayed for readout, or further fed into a data
station for printout by the requested format.
Calibration curve
• A calibration curve is used to determine the unknown concentration of
an element in a solution.
• The instrument is calibrated using several solutions of known
concentrations.
• The absorbance of each known solution is measured and then a
calibration curve of concentration vs. absorbance is plotted.
• The sample solution is fed into the instrument, and the absorbance of
the element in this solution is measured.
• The unknown concentration of the element is then calculated from the
calibration curve.
Applications of Atomic absorption
spectroscopy
• Clinical analysis:
• Using this technique, we can detect deficiencies / excessive
amounts of certain metals in our biological fluids such as; blood
and urine.
• Environmental analysis:
• The technique is widely used for the monitoring of our
environment. It is used to analyze metal ions that are polluting the
soil, air and water. And thus, to find out the levels of various
elements in rivers, seawater, drinking water, air, and petrol.
Pharmaceuticals:
• In some pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, minute quantities of
a catalyst used in the process (usually a metal) are sometimes present
in the final product.
• Therefore, by using AAS the amount of catalyst present can be
determined.
• For example, vitamins preparation.
Industry:
• Raw material analysis:
• Many raw materials are examined and AAS is widely used to check that the
major elements are present and that toxic impurities are lower than specified.
• For example; in concrete, where calcium is a major constituent, the lead level
should be low because it is toxic.

• Food Industry:
• The technique is used for trace elements in food analysis. Where, it is used to
track harmful metals in our food/drinks.
• Cosmetics Industry:
• The technique is used for the trace elements analysis of cosmetics
in cosmetics industry. For example, to analyze the specific allergic
metal in cosmetics.
• Mining:
• By using AAS the amount of metals such as gold in rocks can be
determined to see whether it is worth mining the rocks to extract
the gold.