ATOMIC EMISSION

SPECTROSCOPY
Illustration
Principle of Operation
AES is a procedure of analysing chemicals that employs
the intensity of light from a plasma, flame, arc or a spark
at a define wavelength the calculate the quantitative
presence of an element in a particular sample
Break down sample to produce free atoms
Responsible for the thermal excitation of the atoms
Advantages of Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
1. Lower interelement interference because of higher
temperature.
2. Emission spectra are obtained under a single set of
excitation conditions and several elements can be recorded
simultaneously.
3. Multielement can be analyzed from very small sample.
(Limited for alkali and some alkaline earth metals)
4. Low concentration refractory compounds can be
determined
5. Nonmetals can also be determined by plasma sources.
6. Very high concentration range (linear range) for plasma
sources.
7. ICP-AES- technique of choice for metals analysis.
8. High efficiency atomization/excitation
9. Very wide linear dynamic range (5-6 orders of
magnitude)
10. Ability to measure more than 80 elements
of the periodic table
11. Robust and Reliable
12. Principle ability to handle liquid and solid
samples as well

Disadvantages of Atomic Emission

Spectroscopy
1. More expensive equipment needed.
2. Procedures are somewhat complicated than absorption method.
3. More operating cost than absorption technique.
4. Initial cost of ICP instrumentation and the continuing cost of operation.
5. Moderately high sample volume requirement (2-5 mL).