ABSTRACT
Comparison of Ddection Limits for Atomic-Emission (AES), Atomic-Absorption (AAS), and Atomic-Fluorescence Spectroscopy (AFS)
Detection limit(ppm)
Element
Wavelength (nm)
AES a
AASn b
AFS c
Ag
328.07
0.008
0.001 (A)
0.0001
Al
396.15
0.05
0.005
309.28
0.1 (N)
As
193.70
10
0.03d
0.1
Au
267.60
2
0.05
242.80
0.02 (N)
B
518.0 a
0.05
249.68
2.5 (N)
Ba
553.55
0.002
0.02 (N)
Be
234.86
1
0.002 (N)
0.01
Bi
306.77
20
223.06
0.05 (A)
0.05
Ca
422.67
0.0002
0.002 (A)
0.000001
Cd
326.11
0.8
228.80
0.001 (A)
0.00001
Ce
569.92
10
0.5
Co
345.35
0.03
240.72
0.002 (A)
0.005
Cr
425.43
0.004
357.87
0.002 (A)
0.004
Cs
455.53
0.6
852.11
0.05 (A)
Cu
324.75
0.01
0.004 (A)
0.001
Dy
404.60
0.05
410.39
0.2 (N)
Er
400.80
0.07
0.1 (N)
0.5
Eu
459.40
0.0005
0.04 (N)
0.02
Fe
371.99
0.03
248.33
0.004 (A)
0.008
Ga
417.21
0.06
0.01
287.42
0.05 (A)
Gd
440.19
5
622.09 e
0.07
368.41
4 (N)
Ge
265.12
0.4
0.1 (N)
20
Hf
531.16(II) f
20
286.64
20 (N)
Hg
253.65
10
0.5 (A)
0.002
Ho
410.38
0.1
0.1 (N)
In
451.13
0.003
0.002
303.94
0.03 (A)
Ir
380.01
3
550.0 a
0.4
284.97
I (N)
K
766.49
0.00005
0.003 (A)
La
550.13
6
2 (N)
441.82 e
0.01
470Li
670.78
0.00002
0.001 (A)
Lu
451.86
1
331.21
3 (N)
Mg
285.21
0.07
0.003 (A)
0.001
Mn
403.31
0.008
279.48
0.0008 (A)
0.002
Mo
390.30
0.2
313.26
0.03 (N)
Na
589.00
0.0005
0.0008 (A)
Nb
405.89
1
3 (N)
1
Nd
492.45
0.7
463.42
2(A)
Ni
352.45
0.02
Ge
232.00
0.005 (A)
0.003
Os
442.05
2
305.87
0.4 (N)
Pb
405.78
0.1
0.01
283.31
0.01 (A)
Pd
363.47
0.05
247.64
0.01 (A)
Pr
495.14
0.07
4 (N)
Pt
265.94
4
0.05 (A)
Rb
780.02
0.008
0.005 (A)
794.76
3
Re
346.05
0.2
0.6 (N)
Rh
343.49
0.03
0.02 (A)
Ru
372.80
0.3
349.89
0.06 (A)
Sb
252.85
0.6
217.58
0.03 (A)
Sc
402.37
0.8
391.18
0.1 (N)
Se
196.03
100
0.1 d
0.04
Si
251.61
3
0.1 (N)
Sm
476.03
0.2
429.67
0.6 (N)
Sn
284.00
0.1
235.48
0.05 (A)
Sr
470.73
0.0005
0.005 (A)
0.01
Ta
474.02
4
271.47
3 (N)
Tb
432.65
0.5
2 (N)
534.0 d
0.03
Te
486.62
2
214.28
0.05 (A)
0.05
Th
491.98 (II) f
10
Ti
334.90
0.2
364.27
0.1 (N)
Tl
535.05
0.02
276.79
0.02 (A)
377.57
0.1
0.008
Tm
371.79
0.08
0.04 (N)
0.1
471U
544.8 e
5
351.46
20 (N)
V
437.92
0.1
318.40
0.02 (N)
w
400.88
0.6
3 (N)
Y
362.09
1
597.2 e
0.03
407.74
0.3 (N)
Yb
398.80
0.006
0.02 (N)
0.01
Zn
213.86
10
0.001 (A)
0.00002
Zr
360.12
5
4 (N)
Adapted from Christian, G. D. and Feldman, F. J., Appl. Spectrosc., 25. 660. 1971; nitrous oxide-acetylene flame.
Fuel is acetylene. Letter in parentheses indicates the oxidant: A = air: N = nitrous oxide.
From Fassel. V. A. and Knisely, R. N., Anal. Chem., 46, 110A, 1974.
Argon-hydrogen-entrained air flame.
Band emission.
Ion line.
