ABSTRACT
Atomic absorption spectrometry is the most mature of all the atomic spectroscopic techniques having been developed and commercialized in the late 1950s. Atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) is a more recent development with commercially available systems on the market for the determination of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in cannabis and hemp. However, AFS can offer multielement capability by surrounding the atomization source with a number of element-specific photon sources. This chapter presents the fundamental principles of both atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence and summarizes their strengths and weaknesses with a particular emphasis on their use for the determination of heavy metals in cannabis and hemp. As with plasma techniques, flame AAS requires the sample in liquid form and utilizes nebulizers and spray chambers. The nebulizer mixes the liquid sample with air to form an aerosol mist that is sprayed into the spray chamber.
