Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method and apparatus

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method comprising the steps of:

• (a) emitting a first specific spectrum from a first light source in response to a first current and emitting a second specific spectrum from the first light source in response to a second current, the second current being larger than the first current;
• (b) emitting a continuous spectrum from a second light source;
• (c) directing the first specific spectrum, the second specific spectrum, and the continuous spectrum through an atomized sample containing a specific element;
• (d) detecting the first specific spectrum, the second specific spectrum, and the continuous spectrum after passage through the atomized sample;
• and
• (e) obtaining a first specific spectrum absorbance, a second specific spectrum absorbance, and a continuous spectrum absorbance on the basis of the detected first specific spectrum, the detected second specific spectrum, and the detected continuous spectrum, and obtaining a concentration of the specific element on the basis of at least one predetermined combination of absorbances selected from the first specific spectrum absorbance, the second specific spectrum absorbance, and the continuous spectrum absorbance.

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric apparatus comprising:

• a first light source for emitting a first specific spectrum in response to a first current and for emitting a second specific spectrum in response to a second current, the second current being larger than the first current;
• a second light source for emitting a continuous spectrum;
• an atomizer for atomizing a sample containing a specific element;
• a beam combiner for directing the first specific spectrum and the second specific spectrum emitted from the first light source and the continuous spectrum emitted from the second light source through the atomized sample;
• a detector for detecting the first specific spectrum, the second specific spectrum, and the continuous spectrum after passage through the atomized sample;
• and
• computing means for obtaining a first specific spectrum absorbance A.sub.1, a second specific spectrum absorbance A.sub.2, and a continuous spectrum absorbance A.sub.D from outputs of the detector, and for obtaining a concentration of the specific element on the basis of differences A.sub.1 -A.sub.2, A.sub.1 -A.sub.D , and A.sub.2 -A.sub.D.

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method comprising the steps of:

• (a) emitting a first specific spectrum from a first light source in response to a first current and emitting a second specific spectrum from the first light source in response to a second current, the second current being larger than the first current;
• (b) emitting a continuous spectrum from a second light source;
• (c) directing the first specific spectrum, the second specific spectrum, and the continuous spectrum through an atomized sample containing a specific element;
• (d) detecting the first specific spectrum, the second specific spectrum, and the continuous spectrum after passage through the atomized sample;
• and
• (e) obtaining a first specific spectrum absorbance, a second specific spectrum absorbance, and a continuous spectrum absorbance on the basis of the detected first specific spectrum, the detected second specific spectrum, and the detected continuous spectrum, and obtaining a concentration of the specific element on the basis of differences A.sub.1 -A.sub.2, A.sub.1 -A.sub.D, and A.sub.2 -A.sub.D.