Research

The High Resolution Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) has been developed at ISAS Berlin to overcome fundamental limitations of the well established AAS technique. As a result, two novel instruments (contrAA 300, contrAA 700) have already been introduced into the market (Analytik Jena AG).

The key features of HR-CS AAS are an intensive xenon short-arc lamp, which replaces the common hollow cathode lamps, and an Echelle monochromator with a linear CCD array for spectrum registration. These components offer the possibility for a simultaneous observation of the absorption behaviour of the analyte at the analytical wavelength position and within its spectral vicinity. Considerably lower limits of detection are achieved for nearly all elements accessible to AAS due to the high radiance of the new light source.

By exploitation of the highly resolved spectral information, atomic and molecular background structures can effectively be identified and corrected for. Additionally, structured molecule spectra can be used for the determination of elements, which normally are undetectable with AAS techniques, e.g. sulfur, phosphorus, or halogens.

The development of smart algorithms for spectral characterization and background correction is in progress. Furthermore, a database collecting intensity-calibrated atomic and molecular spectra in high spectral resolution is being established. Enhancements of HR-CS AAS from a sequential to a truly simultaneous technique for multi-element analysis are planned.