Novel traps and atomization techniques for flame AAS

The analytical performance of three trap systems for flame AAS were evaluated for determination of Cd and Pb in waters. In addition to a water- cooled U- shaped silica trap, two other novel traps, namely, a water- cooled U- shaped silica trap combined with a slotted silica tube and a slotted silica tube trap were used. Flame alteration and organic solvent aspiration techniques were two atomization techniques introduced in this work. The slotted silica tube trap with either flame alteration or organic solvent aspiration was found to be the most sensitive, effective and simplest device. For a collection period of 2.0 min, sensitivity enhancements, compared to flame AAS, were 137 and 90 folds for Cd and Pb, respectively, using the slotted silica tube trap and organic solvent aspiration technique.