Essay On Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Introduction

Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) it is an analytical technique that measures the elements concentration. Atomic absorption is so sensitive that it can measure down to parts per billion of a gram (µg dm–3) in sample. The technique makes use of the wavelengths of light specifically immersed by an element. They correlate to the energies desired to promote electrons from one energy level to another, higher, energy level.

Working:

Atoms of different elements consume characteristic wavelengths of light. Analyzing a sample to know if it contains a particular element means using light from that element. For example with lead, a lamp containing lead emits light from excited lead atoms that yield the right mix of wavelengths to be absorbed

Every absorption spectrometer must have components, which fill the three basic requirements. There must be:

(1) A light

Clinical analysis. Analyzing metals in biological fluids e.g. blood and urine.

Environmental analysis. Check our environment – e.g. calculate out the levels of various elements in rivers, seawater, drinking water, air, petrol and drinks such as wine, beer and fruit drinks.

Pharmaceuticals. In some pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, tiny quantities of a catalyst use in the process (usually a metal) are sometimes present in the final product. By using AAS the amount of catalyst present can be calculated.

Industry. Many raw materials examined and AAS widely used to check that the major elements are present and that toxic impurities are lower than specified – e.g. in concrete, where calcium is a major factor, the lead level should be low because it is harmful.

Mining. By using AAS the amount of metals such as gold in rocks can be calculated to know whether it is worth mining the rocks to abstract the