Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The choice of an analytical technique for quantification is determined primarily by the analytes, their number, and the concentrations to be measured, but also by the sample matrix and the interferences it may generate. In addition to capital and operating costs, the desired analytical throughput and the complexity of implementation must also be taken into account. With regard to elemental analysis, no atomic spectrometry technique to date can claim to combine all the desired qualities. Indeed, various solutions are available to analysts, such as: flame emission, atomic absorption, ICP-OES [P 2 719] , ICP-MS [P 2 720] , atomic fluorescence [P 2 835] , or X-ray fluorescence [P 2 695] .

Among these, atomic absorption spectrometry techniques remain widely used around the world to this day, even though their use is becoming less common, particularly in industrialized countries. Indeed, their suitability for routine use and low operating costs make them well-suited for analyzing a wide variety of samples, regardless of the field (biological, environmental, industrial, pharmaceutical, etc.), particularly in geographic regions where access to consumables and special fluids remains a recurring challenge.

These techniques are generally single-element. Furthermore, their execution speed can be a disadvantage compared to multi-element techniques such as ICP-OES or ICP-MS, which deliver results much more quickly (within a few minutes for dozens of analytes), especially when analyzing at the mg level · L ^–1 using flame spectrometry (one element per minute), and even more critically when quantifying at the μg level · L ^–1 using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry...