7. Analytical applications

Atomic absorption spectrometry can be applied to the determination of some thirty elements, both major elements (SAAF analytical range: 0.1 to 10 mg/dm ³ ) and trace or ultratrace elements (SAAE analytical range: 0.0001 to 0.1 mg/dm ³ ). SAA covers a wide range of applications: analysis of water, plant and animal tissues, food and beverages, soils, fertilizers and sediments, biological fluids, industrial products (cement, glass, metals, petroleum products, etc.).

The SAAF and SAAE instruments currently on the market, and their associated sample introduction devices, were originally and exclusively designed for solution analysis. Liquids can therefore be analyzed either directly, or after appropriate dilution. Solid samples, on the other hand, generally have to be put into...