Method for background corrected simultaneous multielement atomic absorption analysis

Claim 1

A method for simultaneous, multi-element, atomic absorption analysis of a plurality of known elements, comprising the steps of: atomizing a sample for which quantities of the plurality of known elements are to be simultaneously determined; illuminating the atomized sample with a continuum light source; directing the resultant light through a high resolution polychromator, having an entrance aperture, while wave length modulating the light at a point behind the entrance aperture; detecting light simultaneously, at a sampling frequency greater than ten times the modulation frequency times the number of elements to be analyzed, at a plurality of locations on the focal plane of the polychromator, each of the locations corresponding to a wavelength uniquely identifying an absorption peak for one of the elements, and converting the light into amplified electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of the light, the period of electrical signal acquisition being much smaller than the period of wavelength modulation and the period of wavelength modulation being much smaller than the duration of the shortest transient absorption signal; coordinating the wavelength modulation and the light detection so that multiple acquisitions of data are made for each of the elements during each modulation cycle, the multiple acquisitions being made in a pattern symmetrically distributed on and about the centers of each of the wavelengths defining the absorption peaks, a ratio of the acquisitions on and off each of the absorption peak wavelengths providing a measure of absorbance for each of the elements; and, storing at least one of: instantaneous levels of the electrical signals from which the ratios can be determined; and, the ratios, which can be determined during the sampling and detection, whereby the analytical results demonstrate improved quality, improved stability, correction for even and sloped background interferences and a useful analytical range extended by at least five orders of magnitude.

Claim 2

A method for simultaneous, multi-element, atomic absorption analysis of a plurality of known elements, comprising the steps of: atomizing a sample for which quantities of the plurality of known elements are to be simultaneously determined; illuminating the atomized sample with a continuum light source; directing the resultant light through a high resolution polychromator, having an entrance aperture, while wave length modulating the light at a point behind the entrance aperture; detecting light simultaneously, at a sampling frequency greater than ten times the modulation frequency times the number of elements to be analyzed, at a plurality of locations on the focal plane of the polychromator, each of the locations corresponding to a wavelength uniquely identifying an absorption peak for one of the elements, and converting the light into amplified electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of the light, the period of electrical signal acquisition being much smaller than the period of wavelength modulation and the period of wavelength modulation being much smaller than the duration of the shortest transient absorption signal; coordinating the wavelength modulation and the light detection so that multiple acquisitions of data are made for each of the elements during each modulation cycle, the multiple acquisitions being made in a pattern symmetrically distributed on and about the centers of each of the wavelengths defining the absorption peaks, a ratio of the acquisitions on and off each of the absorption peak wavelengths providing a measure of absorbance for each of the elements; and, storing at least one of: instantaneous levels of the electrical signals from which the ratios can be determined; and, the ratios, which can be determined during the sampling and detection, whereby the analytical results demonstrate improved quality, improved stability, correction for even and sloped background interferences and a useful analytical range extended by at least five orders of magnitude.