Recent trends in atomic fluorescence spectrometry towards miniaturized instrumentation-A review

Anal Chim Acta. 2018 Aug 17:1019:25-37. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.01.061. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Abstract

Atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), as one of the common atomic spectrometric techniques with high sensitivity, simple instrumentation, and low acquisition and running cost, has been widely used in various fields for trace elemental analysis, notably the determination of hydride-forming elements by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). In recent years, the soaring demand of field analysis has significantly promoted the miniaturization of analytical atomic spectrometers or at least instrumental components. Various techniques have also been developed to approach the goal of portable/miniaturized AFS instrumentation for field analysis. In this review, potentially portable/miniaturized AFS techniques, primarily involving advanced instrumental components and whole instrumentation with references since 2000, are summarized and discussed. The discussion mainly includes five aspects: radiation source, atomizer, detector, sample introduction, and miniaturized atomic fluorescence spectrometer/system.

Keywords: Atomic fluorescence spectrometry; Environmental analysis; Field analysis; Instrumentation; Miniaturized; Portable; Toxic elements.

Publication types

  • Review