Atomic Absorption Spectros

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is a widely used analytical technique for detecting metals and metalloids in samples by measuring light absorption at characteristic wavelengths. Developed in the 19th century and modernized in the 1950s, AAS quantifies elements accurately and is utilized across various industries, including forensic science and environmental studies. While it offers advantages such as low concentration measurement and simplicity, it has limitations in measuring elements not in atomic form or at very low concentrations.

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Atomic Absorption Spectros

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Atomic absorption

spectroscopy
Introduction
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a very common
technique for detecting metals and metalloids in samples.
• It is also rapid, convenient, and usually high selectivity.
• Atomic spectroscopic methods are used for the qualitative
and quantitative determination of more than 70 elements.
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy is an analytical technique
that measures the concentration of an element by
measuring the amount of light that is absorbed at a
characteristics wavelength when it passes through cloud
of atoms.
• As the number of atoms in the light path increases the
amount of light absorbed increases.
There are several types of atomic spectroscopy.
 Atomic absorption spectroscopy (ASS)
 Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) and
 Inductively
coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy(ICP-MS) are
the most common.
ELEMENT DETECTED BY AAS ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN PINK COLOUR
History
• The atomic absorption spectroscopy was
first used as analytical technique in the
second half of 19th century by Robert
Bunsen and Robert Kirchhoff.
• The modern form of atomic absorption
spectroscopy was largely developed during
the 1950s by a term of Australian Chemist.
• The first atomic absorption spectrometer
was build by CSIRO scientist Alan walsh
in 1954.
General principle
• AAS quantifies the absorption of electromagnetic radiation
by well- separated neutral atoms in the gaseous state.
• Therefore, individual elements can be identified and
quantified accurately and precisely even in the presence of
atoms of other elements.

Atomization
• Atomic spectroscopy requires that atoms of the element of
interest be in the atomic state (not combined with other
elements in compound ) and that they be well separated in
space.
• Atomization involves separating particle into individual
molecules (vaporization) and breaking molecules into
atoms.
• It is usually accomplished by exposing the analyte (the
substance being measured) to high temperatures in a
flame or plasma.
• Nebuliser converts liquid solution to fine particles of
aerosol / mist.
• Solvent get vapourised leaving behind the solid
residue.
• The solid residue gets vapourished due to high
temperature of the flame and the molecules dissociate to
atoms.
• The metal atoms absorbs light of its own characteristic
wavelength when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation

(Ni-393nm, Cu-325nm, Na-589nm, Ca-622nm, Ba-554nm)

instrumentation
Parts of atomic absorption
spectrophotometer
• Light source
• Nebulizer
• Atomizer
• Monochromator
• Detector and amplifier
• Read out system
Light source
• Hollow cathode lamp are the most
common radiation source in AAS.
• It contain a tungsten anode and a hollow
cylindrical cathode.
• There are sealed in a glass tube filled with
an inert gas.
(mainly neon or argon)
• Each elements has its own unique lamp
which must be used for the analysis.
Nebulizer

• Nebulizer suck up liquid samples at controlled

rate.
• Create a fine aerosol spray for introduction
into the flame.
• Mix the aerosol and fuel and oxidant
thoroughly for introduction into flame.
Atomizer

• Element to be analysed needs to in atomic

state and this is done by means of
atomizer.
• Atomization is separation of particles into
individual molecules and breaking
molecules into atoms.
• This is done by exposing the analyte to
high temperature in a flame or graphite
furnace.
• The atomizers most commonly used
nowadays are (spectroscopic) flame and
electro thermal (graphite tube) atomizers.
Flame atomization

• Nebulizer suck up liquid sample at

controlled rate and creates a fine
aerosol spray for introduction into
flame.
• To create flame, we need to mix an
oxidant gas and a fuel gas.
• In most of the cases air- acetylene
flame or nitrous oxide acetylene flame
is used.
• Liquids or dissolved samples are
typically used with flame atomizer
Electro thermal atomization

• It uses a graphite coated furnace to

vaporize the sample.
• Samples are deposited in a small graphite
coated tube which then heated to vaporize
and atomize the analyte.
• The graphite tube are heated using high
current power supply.
Monochromator

• This is very important part in an AAS.

• It is used to separate out all of the
thousand of lines.
• A monochromator is used to select the
specific wavelength of light which is
absorbed by the sample and to remove
other wavelengths.
• The selection of the specific light allows the
determination of the selected element in
the presence of others.
Detector and amplifier

• The light selected by the monochromator is

directed onto a detector whose function is
convert the light signal into an electrical
signal.
• Photomultiplier tube detector is mainly
used.
• The processing of electrical signal is fulfilled
by a signal amplifier.
• The amplified signal is then displayed on
read out system or fed into a data station
for printout by the requested format.
Working process of AAS
Determination of the unknown
concentration of the given sample (Ni2+)
• The wavelength is fixed at 393 nm using
the monochromator.
• The blank sample is sprayed over the
flame and the absorbance is set to zero.
• Now the series of standard NiCl2 samples
of known concentration are sprayed one
by one and the absorbance values are
noted.
Concentration absorbance
Blank (C0) 0
C1 A1
C2 A2
C3 A3
C4 A4
C5 A5
Calibration curve

• A calibration curve is used to determine the

unknown concentration of an element in a
sample.
• The instrument is calibrated using several
solution of known concentration.
• The adsorbance of each known solution is
measured & then a calibration curve of
concentrations vs absorbance is plotted.
• The sample solution is fed into instrument &
the absorbance of the element in the solution
is measured.
• The unknown concentration of element is then
calculated from the calibration curve.
Uses of AAS
• Inforensic sciences
Determination of trace element
Element profile of biological samples
Detection of trace elements fibers
Determination of mode of poison
Hair analysis of heavy metal poisoning
• Environmental studies
Detection of metallic impurities in
drinking water, ocean, soil
• Food industry
Detection of metallic contents
• Qualitative and quantitative
analysis
• Presence of metal impurities in
alloys sample
• Detection of lead in petrol
Limitations of AAS
• AAS is a powerful tool for analyzing samples,
but it has several limitations. One of the main
limitations is that the technique is not able to
measure elements in the sample that are not in
the form of atoms.
• This means that the technique is not able to
measure elements that are in the form of
molecules or ions.
• Another limitation of AAS is that it is not able to
measure elements in the sample if they are
present in concentrations that are too low.
• This is because the amount of light that is
absorbed by the atoms in the sample is
proportional to the concentration of the
Advantages of AAS
• AAS has several advantages over other
analytical techniques.
• One of the main advantages is that it is able to
measure elements at very low concentrations,
which is not possible with other techniques.
• This makes it ideal for analyzing trace elements
in a sample.
• Another advantage of AAS is that it is relatively
simple to use and does not require complex
instrumentation.
• This makes it a cost-effective technique for
analyzing samples, as it does not require
expensive equipment.
Conclusion