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NANBEI Is Professional On Providing One-step Solution Of Laboratory Instruments And Equipment
The atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) is a widely used and highly sensitive analytical instrument based on the principle of atomic absorption spectroscopy. It is mainly employed to determine the content of metallic elements in a sample and can also analyze some non-metallic elements. Due to its high precision and reliability, AAS is extensively applied in environmental monitoring, food safety testing, metallurgy, geology, biomedicine, and industrial material analysis.
To achieve accurate results, it is essential to understand the factors that influence the sensitivity of atomic absorption spectrophotometer:
The hollow cathode lamp is the radiation source in AAS. Reducing the lamp current within a certain range can lower the radiation intensity, thereby improving sensitivity. However, this may also decrease lamp stability and reduce the signal-to-noise ratio. Proper adjustment is necessary to balance sensitivity and stability.
The atomizer converts the test solution into fine droplets. The smaller and more uniform the droplets, the higher the atomization efficiency and sensitivity. Optimizing the atomizer design and operating parameters is therefore crucial to enhance detection accuracy.
For advanced testing applications, the laboratory atomic absorption spectrophotometer provides stable atomization systems to ensure reliable results.
Each element has multiple analytical lines. Among them, resonance lines generally exhibit higher sensitivity. Selecting the most suitable analytical line can significantly improve measurement accuracy and detection limits.
The choice of flame depends on the specific element being measured. For example, an air-acetylene flame is typically used for elements with low excitation energy, while a nitrous oxide-acetylene flame is suitable for refractory elements. Choosing the proper flame enhances atomization efficiency and reduces interference.
The slit width of the monochromator affects resolution and sensitivity.
When there are no adjacent interfering spectral lines (e.g., potassium, cadmium), a larger slit can be used.
When there are interfering lines nearby (e.g., calcium, iron, magnesium), a smaller slit should be selected to improve resolution and avoid overlap.
As a precision analytical instrument, atomic absorption spectrophotometers are widely used in:
Environmental monitoring: detecting heavy metals in water and soil samples
Food safety: analyzing trace metals in agricultural and food products
Geology and metallurgy: determining elemental composition in ores and alloys
Biomedicine: measuring essential and toxic trace elements in biological samples
Industrial materials: quality control of raw materials and finished products
For more details, visit our full range of Nanbei Instruments Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers