High-Resolution Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Techniques

High-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry (HR AAS) has emerged as a powerful tool for the determination of trace and ultratrace elements across a wide range of disciplines. By employing a continuum radiation source coupled to a high-resolution double monochromator or echelle system and a charge-coupled device detector, HR AAS offers enhanced spectral resolution (typically 1–2 pm) and the ability to capture entire spectral profiles simultaneously. This approach overcomes limitations of traditional line-source AAS by enabling the use of weak secondary lines, facilitating near-line background correction and allowing for the detection of multiple species within a single measurement. Continuum source flame AAS leverages the broad spectral output of a xenon short-arc lamp to probe both atomic and molecular absorptions, while graphite furnace configurations exploit optimised thermal programmes and chemical modifiers to stabilise analytes, minimise matrix interferences and achieve picogram-level detection limits. Recent innovations include the use of molecular absorption for isotope analysis, direct solid sampling of complex matrices and slurry-based introduction for environmental solids. Collectively, these advances have expanded the versatility, sensitivity and robustness of atomic absorption methodologies for applications in environmental monitoring, materials science and bioanalysis.

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In flame molecular absorption spectrometry, strontium monofluoride (SrF) has been introduced as a novel molecular probe for the determination of organic fluorine in gasoline. Using a continuum source flame spectrometer, investigators optimised flame composition to promote SrF formation while employing blank subtraction and least-squares background correction to eliminate interferences from SrOH and SrBr. This strategy yielded detection limits below 1 mg L⁻¹ and enabled rapid analysis of minimally diluted samples, illustrating the promise of molecular absorption in fuel quality control. For construction materials, a slurry sampling HR-CS graphite furnace AAS method facilitated the direct quantification of Pb, Ni, Fe and Mn without acid digestion. Stable slurries prepared in surfactant–acid media were introduced into the furnace under finely tuned pyrolysis and atomisation programmes, delivering accuracy comparable to conventional digested approaches. Validation against certified reference materials confirmed the method’s environmental compatibility and high throughput. In bioanalytical applications, high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry has been harnessed to determine fluorine via gallium monofluoride (GaF) formation. By refining the furnace temperature cycle and applying palladium–zirconium and ruthenium modifiers, researchers stabilised GaF up to 600 °C and vapourised it at 1 540 °C, achieving characteristic masses of ~9 pg and detection limits below 0.5 µg L⁻¹. This protocol demonstrated robust performance in water and tissue reference materials, offering a sensitive route for trace fluorine assessment in complex matrices.

High-Resolution Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Techniques publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in high-resolution atomic absorption spectrometry techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry: AAS variant using a broadband lamp and high-resolution monochromator for simultaneous background correction and multi-species detection.

Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry: Electrothermal atomisation technique in which samples are introduced into a graphite tube and subjected to controlled heating for trace-level analysis.

Molecular absorption spectrometry: Measurement of absorption by diatomic or polyatomic species formed in the atomisation source, applied to non-metal determinations and isotope investigations.

Chemical modifier: Substance added to the sample matrix to stabilise analytes, suppress interferences and enhance sensitivity in electrothermal AAS.

References

1. Strontium monofluoride – a new molecule to measure fluorine using high-resolution continuum source flame molecular absorption spectrometry and its application for gasoline analysis. Fuel (2024).
2. Continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry: past, present and future aspects - a critical review. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (2014).
3. Chlorine isotope determination via the monitoring of the AlCl molecule by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry – a case study. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2015).
4. Determination of Lead in Eye Shadow and Blush by High-Resolution Continuum Source Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Employing Direct Solid Sampling. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (2014).
5. An Improved Methodology for Determination of Fluorine in Biological Samples Using High-Resolution Molecular Absorption Spectrometry via Gallium Fluorine Formation in a Graphite Furnace. Applied Sciences (2021).
6. An environmentally friendly approach for the characterization of construction materials: determination of trace, minor, and major elements by slurry sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Analytical Methods (2023).