Direct Analysis of Pieces of Materials by Solid Sampling Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Demonstrated Using High-Purity Titanium

Abstract

Solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using the boat technique and a transversely heated graphite tube was applied to direct analysis of pieces of high-purity titanium for Al, As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn. It was found that the enthalpy for alloy formation between the analyte element and the titanium matrix plays an important role in the atomization mechanism. While the elements Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, and Zn could be determined without any modification, carbon powder was added to facilitate the vaporization of As, Co, Fe, Ni, and Sn and to eliminate the matrix interferences in the determination of Al and Cr. Quantification was performed by using a calibration curve obtained with use of aqueous standard solutions. Accuracy was checked by comparison of the results with those of three other methods. Sample amounts of up to 30 mg per atomization were applicable. The limits of detection for the 15 elements assayed were between 0.02 (Mg) and 30 ng/g (Sn).