Determination of rare earth and alkaline earth elements by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using the pyrolytic graphite tube

Abstract

Trace amount of rare earth and alkaline earth elements was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using the pyrolytic graphite coated tube. The apparatus used was a Hitachi atomic absorption spectrometer (Model 308) equipped with a Perkin Elmer graphite furnace atomizer (Model 2000). The pyrolytic-graphite-coated tubes were made in argon atmosphere containing (210) % volume of methane by heating the conventional tube (lengh; 53 mm, internal diameter 8.5 mm, external diameter; 10.5 mm) up to 2200°C for (210) min. The tube was applied to the determination of rare earth and alkaline earth elements by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The sensitivity for Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Pr, Sm, Tb, Y, Yb, Ba, Sr and Ca increased (2.56) fold by using the pyrolytic-graphite-coated tube.