A two-step atomizer system using a transversely heated furnace with Zeeman background correction: Design and first solid sampling applications

A two-step-atomizer consisting of a transversely heated graphite atomization tube and a movable vaporizer graphite cup is described. The atomizer is placed between the poles of an electromagnetic field providing longitudinal Zeeman-effect background correction capability. The tube and the cup are heated by independent power supplies enabling the performance of atomic absorption measurements at temporally and spatially isothermal conditions. The design of the vaporizer provides several advantageous features including direct introduction of solid and liquid samples with extremely low contamination risk and a sampling volume of up to 105 μl. The performance of this system was assessed by analysis of the bovine liver NIST SRM 1577b and of a well characterized titanium dioxide material. Calibration curves for quantification were recorded by using aqueous standards. In comparison of the results obtained by this method with the certified values and with the results of independent methods, excellent to reasonable agreement was achieved. For the elements Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn in titanium dioxide, the achievable limits of detection were between 60 pg g− 1 (Mg) and 0.7 ng g− 1 (Fe).