CONCLUSIONS The system was tested for trace metal analysis in concentrated salt solutions with or without a small dilution factor. The system tolerance for such solutions is approximately 4% by weight. This system is believed to have great potential in the application of atomic absorption to trace metal analysis in biological, clinical, oceanographic, and water pollution samples. LITERATURE CITED A. Hell and J. Ramirez-Munoz, Anal. Chim. Acta. 51, 141 (1970). A. A. Venghiattis, Appl. Opt., 7, 1313 (1968). L. P. Morgenthaler, private communication, 1970. H. J. lssaq and L. P. Morgenthaler, Anal. Chem., 47, 1661 (1975). G. Thompson, The Spex Speaker, Vol. XVI, June (1971). R. Hermann and C. T. J. Alkemade, "Chemical Analysis by Flame Photometry", Interscience Publishers, New York, 1963. (7) M. Margoshes and B. L. Vallee, Anal. Chem., 28, 1066 (1956).
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
(8) P. Porter and G. Wyld, Anal. Chem., 27, 733 (1955). (9) R. Mavrodineanu and H. Boiteux. "Flame Spectroscopy", John Wlley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1965, p 169. (10) J. B.Willis, Anal. Chem., 34, 614 (1962). (1 1) J. B. Willis, "Methods of Biochemical Analysis", D. Glick, Ed., Vol. 11, Interscience, New York, 1964. (12) G. K. Billings, At. Absorpt. News/., 4, 357 (1965). (13) D. J. David, Analyst, (London), 86, 730 (1961). (14) S. R. Koirtyohann and E. E. Pickett, Anal. Chem., 38, 1087 (1966). (15) T. Rains, private communication, 1972. (16) J. Ramirez-Munoz, "Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy", Elsevier Publishing Co.. Amsterdam, 1968. (17) H. C. Van Rensberg and P. 8. Zeeman, Anal. Chim. Acta, 43, 173 (1968). (18) A. Hell, W. F. Ulrich, N. Shifrim, and J. Ramirez-Munoz, Appl. Opt., 7, 11968). 1317 > (19) G. Uny, N. Guea Lottin, J. P. Tardif, and J. P. Spitz, Spectrochim. Acta, Parts, 28, 151 (1971). (20) J. B. Willis. Spectrochim. Acta, Part A, 23, 81 1 (1967). - - - I
RECEIVEDfor review August 6, 1974. Accepted April 11, 1975.
Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Analysis by Direct Introduction of Powders into the Flame J. B. Willis Division of Chemical Physics, C.S.I.R.O., P.O.
Box 160, Clayton,
Victoria, Australia, 3 168
A study has been made of the factors influencing the atomization efficiencies of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, and lead when suspensions of geological materials are sprayed into the flame for analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry. Only particles below about 12 Fm in diameter contribute significantly to the observed absorption and the atomization efficiency increases rapidly with decrease of particle size. With suspensions of samples ground to -325 mesh (
