Item Details

abstract

Renewed interest in electrothermal atomic spectrometric methods based on tungsten coil atomizers is a consequence of a world wide increasing demand for fast, inexpensive, sensitive, and portable analytical methods for trace analysis. In this work, tungsten coil atomic absorption spectrometry (WCAAS) and tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry (WCAES) are used to determine several different metals and even a non-metal at low levels in different samples. Improvements in instrumentation and new strategies to reduce matrix effects and background signals are presented. Investigation of the main factors affecting both WCAAS and WCAES analytical signals points to the importance of a reducing, high temperature gas phase in the processes leading to atomic cloud generation. Some more refractory elements such as V and Ti were determined for the first time by double tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry (DWCAES). The higher temperatures provided by two atomizers in DWCAES also allowed the detection of Ag, Cu and Sn emission signals for the first time. Simultaneous determination of several elements by WCAES in relatively complex sample matrices was possible after a simple acid extraction. The results show the potential of this method as an alternative to more traditional, expensive methods for fast, more effective analyses and applications in the field. The development of a new metallic atomization cell is also presented. Lower limits of detection in both WCAAS and WCAES determinations were obtained due to factors such as better control of background signal, smaller, more isothermal system, with atomic cloud concentration at the optical path for a longer period of time. Tungsten coil-based methods are especially well suited to applications requiring low sample volume, low cost, sensitivity and portability. Both WCAAS and WCAES have great commercial potential in fields as diverse as archeology and industrial quality control. They are simple, inexpensive, effective methods for trace metal determinations in several different samples, representing an important asset in today’s analytical chemistry.

subject

Analytical chemistry

Tungsten coil atomizers

Atomic absorption

Atomic emission

Portable spectrometry

contributor

Donati, George L. (author)

Guthold, Dr. Martin (committee chair)

Colyer, Dr. Christa L. (committee member)

Dos Santos, Dr. Patricia C. (committee member)

Hinze, Dr. Willie L. (committee member)

date

2010-02-17T16:11:04Z (accessioned)

2010-06-18T18:58:55Z (accessioned)

2010-02-17T16:11:04Z (available)

2010-06-18T18:58:55Z (available)

2010-02-17T16:11:04Z (issued)

degree

Chemistry (discipline)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/14808 (uri)

language

en_US (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

rights

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide. (accessRights)

title

Trends in Tungsten Coil Atomic Spectrometry

type

Dissertation