ABSTRACT
Atomic absorption spectrometry is a method used for the quantitative analysis of a great number of chemical elements. Are investigated in this chapter; its apparatus with particular emphasis brought to the systems of nebulization, to the systems of atomization (flame, furnace in graphite and transformation in volatile hydrides), to the luminous source with the clever device which is the hollow-cathode lamp and the problems of correction of the background noise. The performances of this technique are also given. It is endowed with very nice analytical possibilities. Numerous elements can be determined. It shows a very low detection limit. With flames, it is of the order of 1 mg L−1 and with furnace 1µg L−1. These values constitute one of its great interests together with its specificity.
