Investigations Into the Simultaneous Determination of Bismuth and Selenium by ‘In Atomizer Trapping’ Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry†

Initial investigations are described for the simultaneous determination of Bi and Se by hydride generation ‘in atomizer trapping’ electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. A fully automated micro-scale flow injection hydride generation system with ‘in atomizer trapping’ electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was employed. Using the recommended single element hydride generation conditions and optimised multi-element ETAAS parameters, simultaneous signals for Bi and Se were obtained. Calibration graphs were constructed in the range 0–5 µg l–1 and method detection limits of 0.13 and 0.19 µg l–1 for Bi and Se, respectively, established. Better than 2% precision was obtained for 3.0 µg l–1 (n = 5) for Bi and Se. Carry-over effects were seen for Se and were reduced by the use of an internal atomizer gas flow during the ‘in atomizer trapping’ step.