This document discusses the applications and methodology of atomic absorption spectroscopy. It can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis in fields like chemistry, minerals, biochemistry, and metallurgy. Specific applications mentioned include determining metallic elements in biological materials, foods, blood serum, petrol, and more. The document outlines the basic principles and steps for qualitative analysis and constructing calibration curves for quantitative analysis. It also discusses techniques for simultaneous multi-component analysis and analyzing various sample types. Sensitivity limits are provided for several common elements.

1. PRESENTED BY,
DEVIPRIYA P V
M MPARM
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis

2.  Valid applications in every branch of chemical
analysis.
 An established procedure in analytical chemistry,
ceramics, mineralogy, biochemistry, water
supplies, metallurgy and soil analysis.

3. 1. Qualitative analysis.
2. Quantitative analysis.
3. Simultaneous multi-component analysis.
4. Determination of metallic elements in biological
materials.
5. Determination of metallic elements in food industry.
6. Determination of Ca, Mg, Na and K in blood serum.
7. Determination of lead in petrol.

4. Qualitative analysis
 Different hollow cathode lamps are to be used for
each element.
 Only the element used in hollow cathode lamp can
be detected.
 Checking one element at a time.
 Rarely used.

5. Quantitative analysis
 Based on the determination of amount of radiation
absorbed by the sample.
 Amount of light absorbed = (πe2 / mc)Nf
 Quantitative measurements are based on calibration
curves.
 The absorbance values are plotted versus
concentrations.
 concentration of unknown solution is calculated using
equation:
A= mc
Absorbance = slope * concentration.

6. Sensitivity limits
ELEMENT Å SENSITIVITY (ppm)
Al 3092 1
Ca 4427 0.05
Cu 3247 0.1
Pb 2170 0.01
Ni 2320 0.1
K 7665 0.01
Na 5890 0.01
Zn 3601 50.0
Mg 2852 0.001
Hg 2537 1.0
Fe 2843 0.1
Ba 5535 0.2
Ag 3281 0.01

7. Calibration curve of Cu

8.  The parameters that influence a quantitative
determination and need to be controlled are:
: Flame system
: Wavelength
: Solution.

9. Simultaneous multi-component
analysis
 If multi-component emission source is available.
 Mitchell (1973) described a multielement atomic
absorption system using a multielement hollow
cathode source and a vidiocon detection system.
 Spectral region from 2320 to 3281 Å.
 Detect 8 elements (Zn, Cd, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cu and Ag).

10. Determination of metallic
elements in biological materials
 Determination of trace metals.
 Organic matter is decomposed with 50% H2O2.
 Used in combination with conc HNO3 or H2SO4
 The acid depends on the nature of trace metal.

12. Determination of metallic
elements in food industry
 Copper , zinc and nickel.
 Extract trace elements by digestion with dilute
H2SO4 or with HNO3 or with 50% H2O2.

13. Determination of Ca, Mg ,Na and K
in blood serum
 Diagnosing many pathological conditions, diabetes
and primary aldosterionism.
 Dilute serum sample 10 , 20 or even 50 times in
presence of LaCl3.
 Aspirate in AA spectrophotometer and measure the
absorbance.
 Compare with aqueous standard solutions.
 Ca and Mg can be estimated in presence of LaCl3.
 Na and K can be determined by operating AA
spectrophotometer in emission mode in dilutions of
50 or 100:1.

14. Determination of lead in petrol
 Direct method.
 Indirect method.
Direct method :
 Used when nature of additive is known.
 Standard solution containing TEL/TML are prepared
in cyclohexanone.
 For TML the range of standard is 0.5 μg/ml.
 For TEL 0-50μg/ml.
 Aspiration at 283.3nm using air- acetylene mixture.

15. Indirect method:
 Nature of the lead additive is not known.
 Standard solution of lead containing 50, 25 , 10
and 5μg/ml are prepared in de-ionised water.
 Absorbance is measured at 283.3 nm .
 Treat petrol sample with bromine and extract with
dilute HNO3.
 Aspirated to AA spectrophotometer and record
absorbance.
 Pb= (s2-s1/s0-s2)(c)(1/10*s.g of original sample)

16. Also used for:
 Determination of Mg in tap water.
 Determination of Va in lubricating oil.
 Estimation of zinc in zinc insulin injection.
 Estimation of mercury in thiomersal solution.