Quick and Easy Semi Quantitative Atomic Absorption Measurements Possible with ContrAA

The ContrAA series of high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrophotometers from Analytik Jena UK allow semi-quantitative measurements to be made quickly and easily. The availability of all atomic absorption lines from 190 - 900 nm from a single high intensity continuum radiation source means that sequential analysis for different elements on a single sample can be made extremely rapidly. Since all of the lines are available at the same intensity, semi-quantitative analysis can be made using a multi-element standard solution.

The ContrAA Series of instruments is also ideally suited for identification of interfering samples. Since a 1 nm region of the spectrum is typically examined at high resolution, any interfering lines can be identified by rolling the cursor over them. The instruments' comprehensive library of analytical lines includes many molecular absorption lines as well as the atomic ones, allowing interferences from non metals such as sulphur or halogens to be identified. This is the first time that this has been possible using an AA instrument.

The high resolution ContrAA Series is available in flame and hydride analysis (ContrAA 300) and flame, hydride and graphite furnace analysis (ContrAA 700) versions. The ContrAA is a high-resolution spectrometer that offers better detection limits on all elements by factors between 3 and 7. This versatile range of spectrometers closes the gap between ICP analysis and atomic absorption analysis by combining the robustness and simplicity of the AA approach with the speed and variety of information that is normally associated with ICP.