ABSTRACT
Since the introduction of the first commercially available atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) in the early 1960s, there has been an increasing demand for better, faster, easier-to-use, and more flexible trace element instrumentation. A conservative estimate shows that today’s (2012) market for atomic spectroscopy (AS)-based instruments, such as atomic absorption (AA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), represents over $800 million in annual revenue. Once aftermarket sales and service costs are added to this number, it is probably close to $1.2 billion.1 As a result of this growth, we have seen a rapid emergence of more-sophisticated equipment and easier-to-use software. Moreover, with an increase in the number of manufacturers of both instrumentation and sampling accessories, the choice of which technique to use is often unclear.
