ATOMIC ABSORPTION

SPECTROSCOPY
Submitted to: Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Badani
Submitted by: Kiran Fatima
Registration#: 2K-22-PHY-MS-02
 HISTORY

The First atomic absorption spectrometer was built in 1955 by

Alan Walsh in Australia for chemical Analysis.
 INTRODUCTION

• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy is a Spectro-

analytical (analyse spectra) procedure for the quantitative
as well as qualitative determination of chemical elements
using the absorption of  light by free atoms in the
gaseous state.
•  Atomic absorption spectroscopy is based on absorption
of light by free metallic ions
Atomic absorption spectroscopy uses light in the ultraviolet-
visible range and outer electronic transition occur
 BASIC PRINCIPLE

• The technique uses basically the principle that free atoms (gas)
generated in the automizer can absorb radiation at specific
frequency.
• Atomic-absorption spectroscopy quantifies the absorption of ground
state atoms in the gaseous state 
• The atoms absorb ultraviolet or visible light and make transitions to
higher electronic energy levels. The analyte concentration is
determined from the amount of absorption.
 INSTRUMENTATION & WORKING

• Any atomic absorption spectroscopy instrumentation has the

following types of component;
• Hollow cathode lamp
• Atomizer
• Monochromator
• Detector
• Recorder
INSTRUMENTATION
 HOLLOW CATHODE LAMP(HCL)

• An HCL usually consists of a glass tube containing a cathode(metal

of interest is coated), an anode, and a  gas (usually a inert gas). A
large voltage  and low “P” across the anode and cathode will cause
the gas to ionize, creating a plasma.
•  The  gas ions will then be accelerated into the cathode, sputtering
off (form clouds) atoms from the cathode. 
•  Both the  gas and the sputtered cathode atoms will in turn be
excited by collisions with other atoms/particles in the plasma.
 HALLOW CATHODE LAMP(HCL)

• As these excited atoms decay to lower states, they will emit

photons. These photons will then excite the atoms in the sample,
which will release their own photons and be used to generate data
• Specific  atom  absorbed  and released specific energy(wavelength)
 ATOMIZATION

• Atomization can be carried out either by a flame or furnace. Heat energy

is utilized in atomic absorption spectroscopy to convert metallic elements
to atomic dissociated vapor.
• Fuel and oxidant gases are fed into a mixing chamber which passes
through baffles to the burner. A ribbon flame is produced in the AAS
instrument. 
 FLAME PROCESSES  

• The liquid sample enters the flame as fine droplets after

nebulization in the spray chamber. Due to the high temperature the
solvent evaporates and leaves solid salts or crystals behind.
•  The solid particles melt and molecular vapour is formed. In the
higher temperature region thermal dissociation of molecular vapour
takes place and a mix of ground state and ionized atoms results. 
 FLAME PROCESSES  

• The ground state atoms are responsible for absorption of

characteristic light wavelengths reaching from the light source. The
entire sequence is completed in about 10-3 sec (residence time of
sample in flame)
   MONOCHROMATOR

• A   monochromator  is an optical device that transmits a narrow

band of wavelengths of light or other radiation from a wider range
of wavelengths.
•  the desired band of lines can be isolated with a monochromator by
passing a narrow band
  DETECTOR

•  A detector can convert light coming from a monochromator to a

simplified electrical signal. Generally, we used a photomultiplier
tube as a detector in the atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument.
•  A detector can be tuned to respond by a specific wavelength or
frequency
  RECORDER

The recorder can receive electrical signals from the detector to

convert them into a readable response  in AAS we used special
software to  analyse data.
 WORKING

• Atomic spectroscopy is the determination of elemental composition by its

electromagnetic or mass spectrum. The basic principle is that light is passed
through a collection of atoms. If the wavelength of the light has energy
corresponding to the energy difference between two energy levels in the
atoms, a portion of the light will be absorbed. The relationship between the
concentration of atoms, the distance the light travels through the collection of
atoms, and the portion of the light absorbed is given by the Beer-Lambert law.
 BEER-LAMBERT LAW

• The Beer-Lambert law states that there is a linear relationship

between the concentration and the absorbance of the solution, which
enables the concentration of a solution to be calculated by
measuring  its absorption.
• A =  εcl
• A= absorption and c=molar concentration, l=optical path
length,  ε = molar absorption coefficient
 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 the solution is measured . The Unknown concentration of the
element is then calculated from the calibration curve.
 APPLICATIONS OF ATOMIC
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
• The food, cannabis and health supplement industries make use of AAS
to ensure that their products are safe for consumption (food industry).
•  In mining, With the help of AAS, the amount of gold can be quantified
to determine whether it would be profitable to extract it. 
• The analysis of drinking water is probably one of the most important
applications of AAS, 
• Determination of even small amounts of metals (lead,mercury,calcium,
magnesium, etc) as well.
• Pharmaceutical industry. 
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

• Low cost per analysis • Cannot detect non-metals

• Easy to operate • More geared towards analysis
• High sensitivity of liquids
• High accuracy • Sample may be destroyed

• Wide applications across many • New equipment is quite

industries expensive
 CONCLUSION

• Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy is a very common technique for

detecting metals and metalloids in samples
• It is very reliable and simple to use.
• It can analyse over 62 elements
• It also measures the concentration of metals in the sample.
THANK YOU!