How to choose an atomic absorption photometer is a difficult question for most first-time or planned users, but it is a particularly important one. Because your selection is directly related to your purchase cost and whether it can meet the testing requirements, here is a brief introduction.
First of all, you need to understand what kind of elements you need to detect. The types of elements that atomic absorption spectrophotometer is mainly used to detect are trace/trace metallic elements and a few kinds of non-metallic elements. After you understand the types of elements that need to be detected, you can choose the model according to the following principles:
1. The elements that can be detected by the ordinary flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer are:
That is, the simplest standard configuration: lithium sodium magnesium potassium calcium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium rubidium strontium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony hoof cesium osmium iridium platinum thallium lead bismuth
2. If you have other elements in addition to the above elements, you can select the following attachments accordingly
A Hydride generator: Detectable elements (for detecting low melting point elements)
Arsenic Selenium Mercury must be used
B Graphite furnace: Elements that can be detected (graphite furnace is mainly used to detect high melting point elements and trace analysis of elements)
Aluminum silicon scandium titanium vanadium yttrium zirconium niobium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium thorium uranium lanthanum cerium hafnium tantalum tungsten
Secondly, it is necessary to understand the approximate content of the elements you need to detect. The types of elements that atomic absorption is mainly used to detect are trace/trace metal elements and a few types of non-metallic elements. If your content is very high, it is recommended to choose other instruments. After you understand the approximate content of the types of elements to be detected, you can choose the model according to the following principles:
A. If the content of the sample you need to detect is at the PPM level and does not contain high melting point elements, choose the standard configuration
B. If the content of the sample you choose to test is at the PPB level, you need to choose a graphite furnace
The point emphasized here is that in addition to individual low-melting elements such as arsenic, selenium, and mercury, other elements (including those detected by ordinary flame methods) can also be detected by a graphite furnace. In practice, graphite furnaces are used to detect high melting point elements and other elements at the PPB level.
If you refer to the previous model and select the normal flame method, you need to pay attention to one more problem. If the types of elements that may be added in the future can be detected by the ordinary flame method, it is only necessary to purchase the hollow cathode lamp that needs to detect the elements in the future. If the types of elements that may be added in the future can only be detected by the graphite furnace method, then you can consider purchasing equipment with a graphite furnace interface in preparation for adding a graphite furnace system.