3.5 Summary
Optical spectrometry has made considerable advances since the first flame-based instruments were introduced in the 1960s. Recent advances in plasma technology, monochromator layout, and computer-based detector systems such as charge transfer devices have given a new meaning to “state-of-the-art” technology. Today, low-end FAAS instruments are only used in situations where only one or two elements are analyzed infrequently. High sample throughput situations, such as those found in industry and environmental monitoring, require automated systems that can perform multiple analyses in a minimum amount of time. But these demands are paid for with instruments of significantly higher cost. While ICP-AES detection limits are significantly better than flame-based techniques, mass spectrometry yields even better detection limits and can distinguish between different isotopes. This is the subject of Chapter 4.
| Frank's Homepage |
©Dunnivant & Ginsbach, 2008